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'This is mafia league' - Fans react as Juventus face 10-point penalty in Serie A over breaching transfer dealings regulations

Juventus have been handed a 10-point penalty in Serie A for false accounting that could hamper their Champions League chances.

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Juventus (Source: Twitter)

Juventus Juventus (Source: Twitter)

Juventus have been handed a fresh 10-point penalty in Serie A, which will hurt their chances of qualifying for next year's Champions League. The setback came just hours before their embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Empoli at the Carlo Castellani Stadium on Monday (May 23). The latest punishment for false accounting dropped Max Allegri and men from second to seventh place in the league.

The Old Lady were handed the penalty on Monday afternoon after having their previous punishment reinstated following a verdict handed down by the Italian Federal Court of Appeal. Initially, an 11-point penalty was suggested, but the panel ultimately decided on 10.

However, Juventus said in a statement that it may appeal the penalty. "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,” the club stated.

“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," it added.

The initial penalty was overturned on appeal a month ago

Juve were hit with a 15-point penalty in January for alleged financial irregularities and transfer dealings, which resulted in banning of several board members, including former president Andrea Agnelli. However, it was overturned on appeal a month ago, allowing the club to return to the top four.

Following a probe into alleged false bookkeeping by Turin public prosecutors, the club's board resigned in large numbers in November. Based on information from the Turin prosecutors, a sports trial in the case was reopened, resulting in the points deduction.

Juve's legal woes deepened after the Italian Soccer Federation also charged the club and seven former team directors of fraud for cutting player salaries during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Here's how fans reacted: 

 

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