Juventus were kicked out of next season’s Europa Conference League on Friday for breaching financial fair play rules, UEFA announced. The Italian giants were also fined 20mn euros ($22mn) with half that amount suspended.
“Juventus violated UEFA’s regulatory framework...and it was decided to exclude Juventus from the 2023/24 UEFA men’s club competition,” said a UEFA statement. European football’s governing body said the 10mn euro additional fine will only be applied if the 2023, 2024 and 2025 financial years do not meet their accounting requirements.
Juventus said in a statement that they accepted the decision and would not appeal the sanction. “Juventus, while continuing to consider the alleged violations insubstantial and its actions correct, has declared to accept the decision,” the club said.
However, they insisted that this did not “constitute admission of any liability against itself”. “We regret the decisions of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body,” said Juventus president Gianluco Ferrero.
He added the club preferred “to put an end to a period of uncertainty. We do not share the interpretation that has been given of our defence, and we remain firmly convinced of the legitimacy of our actions and the validity of our arguments. However, we have decided not to appeal this judgment.” Ferrero highlighted the “uncertainty about a possible participation in the 2024/2025 season of the Champions League” that could weigh on an appeal procedure.
“Lodging an appeal, possibly to other levels of judgement, with uncertain outcomes and timing, would increase the uncertainty with respect to our eventual participation in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League,” he said.
Fiorentina, who finished in eighth place in Serie A last season, are likely to replace Juventus in the Conference League.
In May, Juventus agreed to pay a fine of more than 700,000 euros ($751,000) for lying about players foregoing wages during the Covid-19 pandemic after a plea bargain approved by the Italian Football Federation tribunal. The plea deal brought to an end a series of cases in Italy’s sporting courts involving the Turin club. They were also handed a 10-point deduction in Serie A after a revision of their initial 15-point penalty inflicted on the club over illicit transfer activity. The disciplinary tribunal of the Italian federation (FIGC) said it had fined the club 718,240 euros, while seven of its management figures were ordered to pay fines ranging from 47,000 euros to 10,000 euros.
While they continue to argue their case, Juventus’ decision not to appeal against this punishment means it should be the final blow inflicted on the club for trying to manipulate financial rules to cover huge losses and allow them to buy more players.
In addition to May’s 10-point deduction, key officials, including former vice-chair Pavel Nedved and sporting director Fabio Paratici, who subsequently moved to Tottenham, were fined by FIGC.
Yesterday, UEFA also reached a settlement with Chelsea which will result in the English Premier League side paying 10mn euros for “submitting incomplete financial information” during the Roman Abramovich era. A UEFA statement said the club’s new owners “identified, and proactively reported to UEFA, instances of potentially incomplete financial reporting under the club’s previous ownership” between 2012 and 2019. “Following its assessment, including the applicable statute of limitations, the CFCB entered into a settlement agreement with the club which has agreed to pay a financial contribution of 10 million euros to fully resolve the reported matters.”