Rome, Turin, London (22/1 – 38)
Almost 16 years after Calciopoli, Juventus got themselves in trouble again with Plusvalenze scandal.
The Bianconeri, a nickname in reference to Juventus’ colours, were accused to inflated player transfer values and made secret wage payments in the early stages of the COVID pandemic.
There were also bans for Andrea Agnelli, Fabio Paratici, Federico Cherubini, Pavel Nedved, and Maurizio Arrivabene, who all already resigned from their positions in the board of directors on November 2022.
Agnelli and Arrivabene received two years ban, Paratici was given 30 months, Cherubini 16 months, and Nedved eight months.
The Old Lady released a statement in response to the ruling that they are going to appeal to CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) while calling the 15 points deduction is “unjust”.
Claudio Marchisio, one of former Juventus players, reacted by saying that The Bianconeri are the only ones sanctioned while the practice commonly used by other clubs. “Capital gains: In economic language, increase in value, positive difference between two values of the same asset referring to different times. As of this evening I would also add that Juventus are the only ones sanctioned, even though it is used by all clubs,” wrote Marchisio in his Twitter account.
Juventus indeed got the most severe punishment in this new scandal. In fact, the other involved clubs: Sampdoria, Empoli, Genoa, Parma, Pisa, Pescara, Pro Vercelli, and Novara, were all acquitted for now.
Juventus also handed a heavier punishment compared to other Plusvalenze scandal in the past.
A similar case happened in the 2004-2010 Italian football scandal. Also called Caso Plusvalenze, it was a scandal over alleged false accounting at Italian football clubs.
No clubs that were found guilty suffered punishment as severe as Juventus now. AC Milan, for example, only handed a 90 thousands euro fine. Their vice chairman back then, Adriano Galliani, also only got a 60 thousands euro fine.
Juventini, the Juventus supporters, would get a déjà vu feeling after the Calciopoli scandal. The Calciopoli scandal was uncovered in May 2006. Juventus and several other clubs including AC Milan, Lazio, and Fiorentina were being accused of selecting favourable referees. The ruling of Calciopoli scandal was long disputed because of the severity of the punishment handed to Juventus compared to the other clubs involved. Some even said that Juventus had been the victims of a witch-hunt, that they were targeted because of their domination in Serie A. In Calcipoli ruling, Juventus were the sole club to be relegated to Serie B.
Meanwhile, AC Milan only got 30 points deduction for the 2005-2006 Serie A season that already concluded. Fiorentina and Lazio were only ousted of their respective participation in European competition of 2006-2007 season. Calciopoli punishments effectively ended Juve’s superiority in the early 2000’s. They were stripped of the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 Serie A title. Juventus had to wait until 2011-2012 to become champions of Italy again.
Now the penalty of Plusvalenze, pending to Juve’s appeal, is also threatening The Bianconeri in sporting terms. Deducted 15 points, Juventus plummet down Serie A table from 3rd to 10th position. With only 22 points, the chance of catching Napoli at the top of the table who now have 50 points is almost impossible.
Juventus also have 12 points deficit to Lazio who occupy 4th place or the last position that will get a ticket to participate in the Champions League next season. A season without Champions League is surely would be a disaster for The Old Lady.