Juventus News: Juventus have had their 15 points temporarily restored; this does not mean they have been cleared of any wrong doing
The decision to reverse Juventus’ 15-point deduction over their transfer dealings has sent shockwaves throughout the Italian football community. The club had been accused of manipulating its balance sheets by artificially inflating gains from transfers.
The initial sanction, which was handed down by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) appeals court, was a major setback for the Bianconeri, who were languishing in seventh place in Serie A at the time. The deduction had placed the club in a precarious position, as it risked missing out on European qualification for the first time in over a decade.
The recent ruling by the Sports Guarantee Panel of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) has now overturned the 15-point penalty. While this decision is a relief for Juventus fans, it has also raised questions about the FIGC’s handling of the case. The matter is not yet closed, as the case will now go back to the FIGC appeals court, which will be tasked with re-examining the evidence and determining a more appropriate punishment.
The timing of the decision couldn’t be more significant, as Juventus is in the midst of a heated race for a Champions League spot. With the reversal of the point deduction, the Bianconeri have jumped from seventh to third place, just two points behind Lazio in second. This means that the club is once again in contention for a place in Europe’s premier club competition. However, the competition is fierce, with several other teams vying for the coveted spots.
As things stand, Jose Mourinho’s Roma is occupying the fourth and final Champions League spot with 56 points. The reversal of the point deduction has pushed AC Milan out of the Champions League places, leaving them with work to do in their remaining eight matches.
The decision to reverse the point deduction has also led to speculation about the impact it could have on Juventus’ ongoing legal battles. The club is currently under investigation by the FIGC for alleged irregularities in their payments to players. If found guilty, the club could face further sanctions, including additional point deductions or even relegation.
The hearing that led to the recent decision was a long and drawn-out affair. The three-hour session took place within the Italian Olympic Committee’s headquarters in Rome. The FIGC did not present any evidence at the appeal, which led to the Italian National Olympic Committee prosecutor Ugo Taucer taking its place at the hearing.
The Sports Guarantee Board partially accepted Juventus’ appeal but did not exonerate the club of wrongdoing. Instead, it ruled that a soccer court made up of different judges should hold new proceedings against Juventus and its directors to come up with a more appropriate punishment.
The decision also had implications for Tottenham’s managing director of football, Fabio Paratici. Paratici was unsuccessful in his appeal against a 30-month ban, which was part of the same proceedings. He is a former Juventus sporting director and was one of 11 directors implicated in the hearing.
Ex-president Andrea Agnelli, former chief executive Maurizio Arrivabene, and sports director Federico Cherubini were among those whose appeals were also rejected. However, former player and director Pavel Nedved, Paolo Garimberti, and Enrico Vellano were successful in their appeals.
With the matter set to go back to the appeals court, it remains to be seen what the final outcome will be.
