On Monday, Juventus Football Club were docked 10 points in a new investigation into the club’s past transfer dealings. This penalty drops Juve to seventh place in Serie A, outside the European qualification spots. The ruling overturns a 15-point penalty that was initially handed to the club in January and overturned by Italy’s highest sporting court in April. The new ruling comes before Juve’s game away to Empoli and puts them 17 points behind Napoli, who have already secured the Serie A title.
The April ruling by Italy’s Sports Guarantee Board also revoked long bans given to former chairman Andrea Agnelli, ex-chief executive Maurizio Arrivabene, and sporting directors Federico Cherubini and Fabio Paratici. However, these bans have now been upheld. If Juve beat Empoli, they will be two points behind AC Milan, who occupy the final Champions League spot, with two games to play.
Juve are also embroiled in criminal proceedings over their accounting practices, with 12 current and former key club figures including Agnelli potentially facing trial. A high court hearing on 26 October will decide whether any eventual trial will be held in Turin, where the investigation has taken place, or in either Milan or Rome.