Juventus fined but avoid further points deduction in plea bargain | Football News
Juventus reached an agreement with Italian football authorities on payments to players and club accounts.
Juventus escaped another goal Serie A points deducted for lying about prepaying players’ wages during the COVID-19 pandemic after the plea agreement was approved by the Italian Football Federation court.
Italy’s most successful club agreed to pay a fine of more than 700,000 euros ($751,000) on Tuesday, ending a series of cases in the Italian sports field.
Juventus said it had decided to accept the settlement “in the best interest” of the club itself, its shareholders and stakeholders.
“The settlement of all FIGC open sports proceedings allows the company to achieve a certain outcome,” Juventus said in a statement, adding that this would remove “the stress and instability” and allows the club to focus on plans for next season.
Last week, they had 10 points deducted in Serie A after amending the original 15-point penalty imposed on the club for illegal transfer activity.
Juventus agreed not to appeal the deduction as part of Tuesday’s settlement.
The plea agreement involves the Turin club allegedly lying about the players giving up their pay during the 2020 pandemic, while privately assuring those players that they will only miss a part. of what is publicly available.
In doing so, it could artificially reduce the loss of the club’s annual balance sheet during the pandemic, when matches were canceled and revenue plummeted.
The Italian federation’s disciplinary court (FIGC) said in a published decision that it had fined the struggling club 718,240 euros ($770,284), while seven of its management figures were required. fines.
Shares of Juventus rose as much as 9.9% on the Milan Stock Exchange after the deal was announced and were up 5.1% at 13:50 GMT.
With just one game to go, the deal leaves Juventus seventh in the Serie A standings, allowing them to qualify for next season’s Europa Conference League and they could move up to fifth, giving them hope. get a spot at the more lucrative Europa. League.
However, the club may have to forfeit a spot in European competitions as sanctions could be imposed in a separate investigation by European football’s governing body UEFA, the newspapers reported. believe.
However, excluded from the plea agreement was former president Andrea Agnelli, who joined prosecutors in asking for his hearing to be adjourned to June 15, what the court called “elevated negotiations”. high” on potential sanctions.
As part of this case, Agnelli, 11 other people and the club itself are at risk of going to court.
Juve face separate criminal proceedings in the case, with 12 current and former key figures of the club, including former president Agnelli likely facing trial. .
