Juventus have suffered a severe blow to their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League with a 10-point deduction imposed on them.
The punishment was handed down during a court hearing, marking the latest development in their false accounting case. Initially, there was a suggestion of an 11-point penalty, but the panel settled on a deduction of 10 points.
Previously, Juve had received a 15-point penalty due to alleged financial irregularities and inflated player transfer fees.
However, this penalty was overturned on appeal, allowing Max Allegri’s team to reclaim their position in the top four of Serie A.
The club’s top executives, including Fabio Paratici, were suspended for their involvement in the case. Paratici, who served as the Chief at Tottenham Hotspur, had to step aside and was given a 30-month ban, which FIFA subsequently applied worldwide.
His appeal against the suspension was rejected by Italy’s highest sports court, leaving him with the option to pursue further action at the Court of Arbitration for Sport or initiate a civil court case, both of which would likely take several months.
While Pavel Nedved, Paolo Garimberti, and Enrico Vellano successfully appealed their charges, Paratici, Andrea Agnelli, and Federico Cherubini had their appeals rejected.
Juventus could theoretically lodge another appeal, but the chances of success appear slim. The club issued a statement acknowledging the decision of the FIGC Court of Appeal and reserving the right to consider an appeal to the Guarantee Board at CONI.
Juventus expressed their disappointment with the lack of clear rules and the seemingly disproportionate application of sanctions.
As a result of the deduction, Juventus’ points tally has dropped from 69 to 59, significantly impacting their chances of securing a top-four finish.
Their maximum possible points total is now 68, while AC Milan, who currently occupy fourth place, have 64 points with two games remaining.
The upcoming fixture against Milan holds even greater importance for Juventus, as they aim to keep their hopes alive.
Their final match of the season will be against Udinese, but by then, it may be too late to salvage a top-four finish.
Additionally, Juventus has lost their backup route to the Champions League after being eliminated by Sevilla in the Europa League semi-finals.