15 points deducted and suddenly Juventus Turin slips from 3rd to 10th place in Serie A. This heavy penalty was imposed by the Italian association court for balance sheet falsification. Other clubs facing the same charge got off lightly.
A “blatant injustice” against which the football record champions want to take action before the highest sports court of the Italian Olympic Committee.
“A trick” by UEFA
Juve supporters believe in a conspiracy. Paolo Bertinetti, president of the fan club Associazione Amici della Juventus explains: “They have deducted exactly so many points from Juventus that they cannot qualify for the Champions League, or even the Europa League.
Of course, Juve could win the Coppa Italia and then be allowed by law to play in the Europa League. But then, with the right paperwork, UEFA would still find a trick to keep Juve out. “
Turin FC supporters very pleased
A woman interviewed on the street says: “It would only be fair to involve the other clubs as well. It’s unfair that only Juventus has to pay, knowing that Juventus, as a public company, has other obligations to its shareholders.”
An agitated fan rants, “I think it’s outrageous that we always focus on Juventus and never look at the others, because the problem of capital gains affects all teams.”
Other Turin football fans are anything but horrified by the clap.
One young man says with a grin, “I’m happy about it.”
Really?
“Yes, I’m a Turin FC supporter!”
One month to appeal
The federation’s appeal court FIGC had deemed it proven that Juve attributed fictitious market values to its players for years and recorded them in the books.
In 2018, 2019 and 2020 alone, the club’s balance sheet was allegedly embellished in this way by more than 100 million euros. The sports tribunal had already acquitted Juve and the other clubs of the allegations once – but new findings meant that the proceedings were reopened.
Juventus has one month to appeal to the Coni’s highest sports court after receiving the reasons for the verdict. However, this court cannot cancel the penalty or reduce the points deduction, but can only return the case to the FIGC court if procedural errors are found.