Series A
Association chief prosecutor demands heavy point deduction for Juve
Juventus Turin – here professional Federico Gatti – must fear a point deduction. photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
Will Juventus still be deducted points in the championship? This is what the chief prosecutor of the Italian association demands. Turin must fear for the Champions League.
Because of financial offenses Juventus Turin should now be punished with a heavy point deduction in the current season. The chief prosecutor of the Italian football association FIGC, Giuseppe Chinè, demanded that eleven points be deleted for the record champions.
This would mean that Turin, who are currently second in the Serie A table, would slip out of the top four places that entitle them to participate in the Champions League. After the prosecutor, it was the turn of the Juve defenders to make their statements before the FIGC Supreme Court. According to media reports, a judgment could still be made in the evening.
Market values falsified?
The case is about the allegation that Juventus has falsified the market values of its players for years and is said to have booked excessive sums in transfers or barter transactions with other clubs. The association court therefore sentenced the Turiners to a 15-point penalty at the beginning of the year. On the other hand, the club took action before the highest Italian sports court and was initially successful – this lifted the penalty, but returned the case to the FIGC chamber for a new verdict.
It is interesting that Chinè had only demanded a nine-point deduction in the first trial – but the court independently increased the penalty to 15 points. For former Juve managers who are also accused, such as ex-pro Pavel Nedved, the prosecution has now asked for a ban of eight months. Just because of the first judgments against those managers, the highest Italian sports court had returned the case to the FIGC court. Now Chinè stuck to his demands under the originally imposed penalties.
Juventus, who wanted to fight for points at FC Empoli on Monday evening (8.45 p.m.) and thus qualify for the European Cup, not only have to answer to a sports court because of this cause. In the previous week, prosecutor Chinè had reported the association because it is said to have illegally booked and concealed salary payments in the millions.