Juventus docked 15 points for falsely reporting transfers


Milan, Jan 20, 2023 (AFP) – Juventus’ troubled start to the new year slipped into disaster on Friday after the Italian Football Federation docked the Serie A giants 15 points for using transfers to artificially boost their balance sheet.

The FIGC said in a statement that the points sanction was to be inflicted this season, a huge blow to Juve, whose chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League are now greatly compromised.

Juve drop down from third to 10th place on just 22 points, 15 from the top four positions in Italy’s top flight.

Missing out on Europe’s top – and richest – club competition would be a further blow to the club’s accounts, which last season were nearly €239 million in the red.

Juve’s current sporting director, Federico Cherubini, was also banned for 16 months, another serious punishment which Juve said in a statement they would appeal at the Italian Olympic Committee.

The club’s former leadership team was also handed long bans by the FIGC, including two years to ex-chairman Andrea Agnelli and former CEO Maurizio Arrivabene and 30 months to former sporting director Fabio Paratici, now at Tottenham Hotspur.

The FIGC also said that it had asked that the bans – which also included eight months for former vice president and playing icon Pavel Nedved – be extended beyond Italy to the jurisdictions of international governing bodies UEFA and FIFA.

‘Injustice’

All eight other clubs facing potential FIGC sanctions, including Serie A teams Sampdoria and Empoli, were acquitted, something Juve’s legal team called “a clear injustice.”

They were accused of using capital gains – the positive difference between purchase and sale values net of amortization and write-downs – from a series of player exchanges in which little or no money passed between clubs.

One widely cited deal was between Juve and Barcelona in 2020 which saw Miralem Pjanic move to Catalonia and Arthur Melo go the other way.

Arthur was valued at €72 million and Pjanic €60 million, sums both clubs could immediately book on their balance sheets while the cost of purchases can be spread over the length of a player’s contract.

Juve recorded a capital gain of €43 million on Pjanic, the second highest in the club’s history.

The decision to dock Juve points came as the FIGC reopened a trial which had ended last year with Juve and a host of other clubs, including Serie A leaders Napoli, being acquitted.

It follows new evidence from a separate criminal probe into Juve’s finances conducted by prosecutors in Turin.

Juve will know after a preliminary hearing in March if they and the former members of the club’s board will stand criminal trial over alleged false accounting.

Agnelli and the rest of the Juve board stepped down in November under pressure from the criminal investigation, with a new board led by Gianluca Ferrero being appointed earlier this week.

The new board will remain in office until the shareholders’ meeting for the approval of Juve’s accounts as of June 30, 2025.

Agnelli’s departure ended a 12-year reign which brought a host of trophies and for a period re-established Juventus as one of Europe’s best teams but ended in turmoil.

Last month, UEFA said it had opened a formal investigation into whether Juventus had misled them and broken rules regarding their finances.

Got a story or tip for us? Email Sports Gossip editors at tips@sportsgossip.com 

Want More From Sports Gossip? 

For all the latest breaking Sports Gossip, be sure to follow SportsGossip.com on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter.

You can view the original article HERE.

Original ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host Chuck Woolery Dead at 83
Original ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host Chuck Woolery Dead at 83
‘Wicked’ Moviegoers Dress Up in Outfits Inspired by Characters
‘Wicked’ Moviegoers Dress Up in Outfits Inspired by Characters
Khalid Comes Out As Gay, Says He Was Outed
Khalid Comes Out As Gay, Says He Was Outed
Porsha Williams Sued by Ex Simon Guobadia Over Erectile Dysfunction Posts
Porsha Williams Sued by Ex Simon Guobadia Over Erectile Dysfunction Posts
Every ‘Karate Kid’ Actor Who Came Back for ‘Cobra Kai’
Every ‘Karate Kid’ Actor Who Came Back for ‘Cobra Kai’
The Finale Sets Up a Wild Season 2
The Finale Sets Up a Wild Season 2
Black Harvest Film Festival 2024: A Reflection of a City on the Rise | Festivals & Awards
Black Harvest Film Festival 2024: A Reflection of a City on the Rise | Festivals & Awards
Cher Says Director Peter Bogdanovich Was an “A**Hole” on the Set of ‘Mask’
Cher Says Director Peter Bogdanovich Was an “A**Hole” on the Set of ‘Mask’
Sex Pistols’ Glen Matlock on being asked to play bass for “boring” Oasis and why he never found Johnny Rotten’s lyrics “sincere”
Sex Pistols’ Glen Matlock on being asked to play bass for “boring” Oasis and why he never found Johnny Rotten’s lyrics “sincere”
Sean Ono Lennon says he started making music to “fill the void” after John Lennon’s death
Sean Ono Lennon says he started making music to “fill the void” after John Lennon’s death
Watch Jon McClure recreate ‘Love Actually’ cards sequence in Reverend and the Makers Christmas Number One bid
Watch Jon McClure recreate ‘Love Actually’ cards sequence in Reverend and the Makers Christmas Number One bid
Yes frontman “deeply hurt” as he hits back at “blatant lies” of former bandmate’s lawsuit
Yes frontman “deeply hurt” as he hits back at “blatant lies” of former bandmate’s lawsuit
Pacers’ Haliburton after loss to Bucks: ‘I’ve got to be better’
Pacers’ Haliburton after loss to Bucks: ‘I’ve got to be better’
49ers’ Purdy, Bosa out vs. Packers due to injuries
49ers’ Purdy, Bosa out vs. Packers due to injuries
76ers’ George out next 2 games with knee injury
76ers’ George out next 2 games with knee injury
President Biden welcomes 2024 NBA champion Boston Celtics to White House
President Biden welcomes 2024 NBA champion Boston Celtics to White House
TV Shows Doing Nostalgia Right (Without Making It Cringe)
TV Shows Doing Nostalgia Right (Without Making It Cringe)
‘Arcane’ Poster With AI Enhancements Slammed By Fans and Removed by Netflix
‘Arcane’ Poster With AI Enhancements Slammed By Fans and Removed by Netflix
‘Silo’s Syndrome Illness Is Nowhere to Be Found in the Books
‘Silo’s Syndrome Illness Is Nowhere to Be Found in the Books
10 TV Characters Who’d Be Thanksgiving Dinner Nightmares (And 5 Who’d Be a Dream)
10 TV Characters Who’d Be Thanksgiving Dinner Nightmares (And 5 Who’d Be a Dream)
New CEO’s at Saint Laurent & Balenciaga, Massive Editor Exits, & More Moves To Peruse!
New CEO’s at Saint Laurent & Balenciaga, Massive Editor Exits, & More Moves To Peruse!
Hearst Layoffs Backlash, Bergdorf Goodman’s Holiday Windows
Hearst Layoffs Backlash, Bergdorf Goodman’s Holiday Windows
Luxe Resorts We Love For A Winter Getaway!
Luxe Resorts We Love For A Winter Getaway!
Alex Consani Wants An Aritzia Birkin For Christmas
Alex Consani Wants An Aritzia Birkin For Christmas