Juventus: Juventus have been handed a ban from participating in the upcoming year’s UEFA Conference League. UEFA also handed them a €20 million fine where €10 million is conditional. It will only be triggered if there are more financial irregularities between 2023 to 2025. They already received a 10-point deduction from the domestic league as punishment last season. This was after the financial irregularities and false accounting charges against them were investigated. Juventus have decided not to appeal against the decision. They rather want to focus on the upcoming season.
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UEFA’s initial investigation was on Juventus’ inability to ‘fulfill the break-even requirement’ around FFP. The breach occurred between the financial years between 2018 to 2022. However, UEFA took the COVID impact faced by the club. Their financial arm (CFCB) reached a settlement with Juventus. Following this, UEFA later confirmed in December that CFCB will then be investigating Juventus’ alleged financial violations. They then said that if ‘new and substantial facts’ come to light, the 3-year transitory agreement will be terminated.
Initially, 15 points were deducted from Juventus as a punishment in January. This was after the investigation of the financial irregularities and false accounting charges against them. Upon appeal, the decision was revoked, but they received a 10-point deduction punishment again in May by the Italian Football Federation. This time, they had no way of recovering and ended the season in 7th position in the table, so they were selected for the UEFA Conference League. However, now UEFA have decided to hand them a one-year ban. Hence, they will not be able to participate in the tournament.
As per UEFA, Juventus violated “regulatory framework and breached the settlement agreement signed in August 2022.” The club President Gianluca Ferrero expressed that they didn’t want to appeal the decision. As a result, 8th place Fiorentina will now get Juventus’ spot in the UEFA Conference League. It also means Aston Villa will move from the un-seeded pot to take Juventus’ place in the seeded pot for the two-legged play-offs in August. The club President commented saying, “We regret the decision of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body.”
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He added, “We do not share the interpretation that has been given of our defense, 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. This decision is in line with the one taken last May in the context of the disputes with the FIGC. As in that case, we prefer to put an end to the period of uncertainty and ensure full visibility and certainty to our internal and external stakeholders about the club’s participation in future international competitions.”
He further added, “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. Instead, we want the first team, our fans, our sponsors, suppliers and financial partners to be able to experience the 2023-24 season with the utmost serenity and certainty with respect to the results achievable on the pitch, especially after the turbulent past season.”
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