Juventus received a setback that narrows its path to the upcoming Champions League edition after Napoli locked in a decisive move. The Italian federal judiciary announced sanctions worth 10 points for the Turin club in a case tied to capital gains, shuffling the standings from second to seventh in Serie A as the season unfolds.
Initially, the penalty was set at 15 points for the current campaign. The suspension came through on April 20, handed by the Italian Olympic Committee Garanti College, pending a later review after Juventus filed an appeal arguing there was no justification to deduct such a large margin of points from the squad.
The legal fight for Vecchia Signora had just begun, but the initial ruling stood. The decision is treated as final for the remainder of the season. Although prosecutors had requested an 11-point sanction after the review, the outcome settled at 10. Seven coaches, including former player Pavel Nedved, were acquitted in the proceedings.
Description of the Italian Federation and reactions from Juventus
The Court of Appeals of the Italian Football Federation, convened by the College of Guaranteed Sport to reassess the sanction in the capital gains case, awarded the Juventus club a 10-point penalty for the current sporting season. The memo outlining this decision was released by the federation.
A response from Juventus came through one of its directors, Francesco Calvo, who said the 10-point penalty did not satisfy the club and that there might be room for an appeal. He added that this season would see Juventus face every challenge with determination.
The club also issued an official statement, noting that Juventus acknowledges the decision of the FIGC Court of Appeals and reserves the right to examine the reasons and consider a possible appeal before the CONI Guarantee Board. There is visible anger among supporters who feel the sanctions do not reflect the rules and proportionality. The club emphasized that key details still require judicial evaluation.
Sporting situation of Juventus
The impact on the squad’s standing is severe. Juventus sits in second place with 69 points after 35 league games but will drop to seventh with 59 points under the verdict. This move dramatically reduces their chances of qualifying for the next Champions League edition.
Currently, Roma sits in sixth place fighting for a Conference League spot with 60 points. Atalanta, in fifth, holds 61 points and a path to Europe’s secondary competition. AC Milan and Inter Milan occupy fourth and third places with 64 and 66 points respectively, securing two of Italy’s guaranteed Champions League berths. Lazio, in second with 68 points, and Napoli, leading with 86 points, appear out of reach for Massimiliano Allegri’s side.
Juventus remains focused on the 36th matchday of Serie A, facing Empoli. A victory would lift them to 62 points, still below the threshold for direct qualification and above Bergamo’s Europa League route by a small margin with a couple of fixtures left to play. The upcoming results will determine whether Juve can salvage a final position that offers European competition opportunities for next season.
For supporters and analysts alike, the situation underscores how administrative decisions can alter the competitive landscape in Italian football. It also highlights the ongoing debate about rules, their application, and the balance between punishment and proportionality in a sport driven by both performance and governance. The coming weeks are expected to bring further clarifications as the federation provides additional comments and the club evaluates its options for appeal and strategy in the league race and European ambitions.