April 20, (THEWILL) – Italian giants, Juventus, have been granted a reprieve by the country’s top sports body, overturning a January verdict that saw the team docked 15 points over alleged irregularities in transfer dealings.
Italy’s Sports Guarantee Board ruled that a new hearing must be held with a different panel of judges. The original sentence had also banned 11 past and present Juventus directors from holding office in Italian soccer, including former Chairman Andrea Agnelli.
With eight games left to play, Juventus will see an immediate rise from seventh to third in the Serie A table, now sitting at 59 points – a full 16 behind league leaders Napoli. The team’s reinstatement brings it back into the fold for a shot at the lucrative European Champions League, a coveted slot for all major clubs.
The new ruling is only a partial victory for Juventus, as the club has not been cleared of wrongdoing. The upcoming hearings will determine whether additional punishments are warranted. Nonetheless, Juventus remains one of the most successful teams in Italian soccer, and its management and ardent supporters will to be thrilled by the reprieve.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
