In a recent decision, an Italian court looking into the club’s transfer activities docked Juventus 10 points.
With 69 points before to the new rule, Juventus was in second place behind Serie A winners Napoli.
As a result, Juventus now finds itself in seventh place, five points outside of a winners League spot. The decision was made just before the start of the team’s Monday night match at Empoli, and maybe as a result of the announcement, Juventus’ three-game winning streak was abruptly ended by a 4-1 loss to their mid-table opponents.
Their chances of making the top four are all but gone as a result of that outcome and the new sanctions.
Federation prosecutor Giuseppe Chine recommended an 11-point penalty for Juventus during a three-hour hearing on Monday. In January, he had requested nine.
In the aftermath of the news, Juventus lost 4-1 to struggling Empoli. Then, with two rounds left in the Serie A season, Juventus will play AC Milan in a game that will be essential in their attempt to avoid missing the Champions League for the first time in 11 seasons.
Juventus stated on Twitter that they “take note” of the court’s ruling and “reserve the right” to appeal it once more to Italy’s highest sports body.
“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 penalized with the application of sanctions that do not seem to take into account the principle of proportionality,” Juventus added.
“While not ignoring the need for urgency, which Juventus has never shied away from during the proceedings, it is emphasized that these are facts that still have to be evaluated by a judge.”
Max Allegri’s side was handed a 15-point penalty in January while several members of Juventus’ former board were also given bans from soccer activities, including former president Andrea Agnelli.
The Italian Olympic Committee’s top sports court upheld the appeal last month, suspending the points deduction and remanding the case for further consideration to the soccer federation’s appeals court.
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