- Juventus have been banned from competing in next season’s European football for breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules
- The Old Lady have also been fined £17.4 million but will only pay half the amount if they comply with the regulations for the next three years
Juventus have been banned from competing in next season’s European football for breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. The reports means that the Serie A side will not compete in the Europa Conference League during the 2023-24 season.
Apart from being banned, Juventus have also been fined £17.4 million as part of the ruling. However, they will only pay half the amount if they comply with the regulations for the next three years.
Juventus will not appeal the judgement. Photo/ Juventus.com.
Responding to the charge, Juventus president Gianluca Ferrero said they will not appeal the judgement even though they regret the decision by UEFA.
“We regret the decision of the UEFA. We do not share the interpretation that has been given of our defence, and we remain firmly convinced of the legitimacy of our actions and the validity of our arguments. However, we have decided not to appeal this judgment. Lodging an appeal, possibly to other levels of judgement, with uncertain outcomes and timing, would increase the uncertainty with respect to our eventual participation in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.”
BBC Sports quotes Gianluca Ferrero.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) have to notify UEFA the club which will take Juventus’ place in next season’s Europa Conference League. According to BBC Sports, it is likely to be Fiorentina who will replace the Old Lady in the third-tier European competition. Fiorentina, who finished eighth in last season’s Serie A standings, lost to
West Ham in the Europa Conference League final last season.
While they continue to argue the case, Juventus decision not to appeal against the punishment could be the final blow they face for trying to manipulate financial rules to cover huge losses and allow them purchase more players in the transfer market.
Juve were found to have violated the framework of a settlement agreement with UEFA in August 2022. The case against the Old Lady follows a £620,000 fine as part of a settlement agreement with Italian football authorities concerning payment of salaries to players.
Juventus were handed a 10-point deduction last season that demoted them from second place in Serie A after an investigation into the club’s dealings. They had initially been docked 15 points in January but Italy’s highest sporting court overturned that ruling in April.
In addition to being deducted 10 points, FIGC fined the club’s key officials, including former sporting director Fabio Paratici and vice-chair Pavel Nedved. Since this issues surfaced, Juventus have activated a major management overhaul.
Juventus finished seventh in the Serie A standings when they could have actually finished fourth and qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League. The Old Lady will be missing out on European Football for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
A Juventus branded corner flag in a general view at Allianz Stadium in Turin. Photo/ Eurosport.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login