22 May 2023 , 18:28
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Juventus have been handed an 10-point deduction that will ruin their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
The Old Lady, who sit second in Serie A and face Empoli tonight, were handed the punishment at a court hearing this afternoon as the latest twist in their false accounting case. An 11-point penalty had been suggested, but the panel ultimately settled on 10.
Juve were initially given a 15-point penalty linked to alleged financial irregularities and transfer dealings that saw the price of players inflated. But it was quashed on appeal a month ago to see Max Allegri’s team return to the top four.
Juventus have been dealt a blow in their top four hopes (DeFodi Images via Getty Images)A host of the club’s top executives have been suspended for their roles in the case - including Fabio Paratici, who was forced to step aside in his role as Tottenham Hotspur chief having been handed a 30-month ban that was subsequently applied worldwide by FIFA.
Paratici, who worked at Juve from 2010 until 2021, failed in his bid to have his suspension overturned by Italy’s highest sports court on April 20.
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He has the option to take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland or start a civil court case but it could be several months before either action is completed.
Pavel Nedved, Paolo Garimberti and Enrico Vellano were all successful in appealing against their charges but Paratici, Andrea Agnelli and Federico Cherubini had their appeals rejected.
EMPOLI, ITALY - MAY 22: Massimiliano Allegri Coach of Juventus FC during the Serie A match between Empoli FC and Juventus at Stadio Carlo Castellani on May 22, 2023 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images) (Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)As reported by Football Italia, it is theoretically possible for Juventus to lodge a further appeal. However, it has been suggested that there is little chance of this being successful.
"Juventus Football Club takes note of what was decided by the FIGC Court of Appeal and reserves the right to read the reasons to evaluate a possible appeal to the Guarantee Board at CONI," a statement from the club reads.
"What was established by the fifth instance of judgment in this matter, which began more than a year ago, arouses great bitterness in the club and in its millions of supporters who, in the absence of clear rules, find themselves extremely penalised with the application of sanctions that seem to take into account the principle of proportionality. While not ignoring the need for urgency, which Juventus has never shied away from during the proceedings, it is emphasised that these are facts that still have to be evaluated by a judge."
The ruling comes just days after Juventus' European elimination (AP)Following the points deduction, Juve have fallen from second in the table to sit outside the Champions League spots ahead of their meeting with Empoli. There is still a chance they could claw their way back into the top four come the end of the season, but even maximum points from their final three fixtures might not be enough.
Ahead of Monday's game, their points tally has dropped from 69 to 59. The most they can finish on is 68, while AC Milan - now fourth after Juve's drop down the table - sit on 64 with two games left to play.
After the Empoli fixture, Juventus have a home meeting with fellow Champions League contenders Milan which now takes on even greater significance. They will finish the season away at Udinese, but by that time a top four finish may be beyond them.
Juventus have also lost their potential backup route into the Champions League, having fallen to Sevilla in the semi-finals of the Europa League. Dusan Vlahovic put the Bianconeri in front, only for Suso to equalise before Erik Lamela headed home an extra-time winner for the Spanish side.