March 27, (THEWILL) – A hearing has begun behind closed doors in Turin, to determine if former Juventus Chairman, Andrea Agnelli, the club, and 11 other individuals should face trial over accusations of false accounting. The hearing, which is expected to last several months, will determine if there is enough evidence to warrant a trial.
THEWILL recalls that last December, prosecutors requested a trial for all defendants after investigating the club’s accounting and statements made to financial markets over three recent years. The prosecution alleges that Juventus understated its financial losses for the 2018/2019, 2019/2020, and 2020/2021 seasons.
The investigation is centred around the values ascribed to player transfers between clubs and whether the club actually sacrificed salaries during the COVID-19 pandemic or simply deferred them. Juventus denies any wrongdoing and claims their accounting is in line with industry standards.
This case has sparked strong emotions in soccer-obsessed Italy. Juventus, owned by the Agnelli family for over a century, enjoys widespread support throughout the country. However, their success and wealth have also generated animosity from fans of rival teams. Last November, Agnelli resigned as chairman, along with the rest of the club board, days before prosecutors requested a trial.
Additionally, the Turin criminal investigation has led to a separate inquiry by Italy’s sport authority, resulting in a 15-point deduction for Juventus this season. With 11 games left to play, Napoli appears to be on track to win the title with Nigerian forward, Victor Osimhen, leading the charge.
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.
