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Italian football authorities have overturned Juventus’ 15-point deduction, seeing the Turin side gain several places in the Serie A league table.
The Italian titans are now ranked third in Serie A, knocking Inter Milan and AC Milan out of the Champions League spots.
Three hours before their crucial Europa League quarter final second leg away to Sporting Lisbon, Juventus had their Serie A points penalty revoked pending a new trial to further elucidate their capital gains controversy.
The trial required the FIGC Federal Court of Appeal to reconsider its January decision.
Juventus Sanctions Dropped, Paratici Ban Sustained
The court’s investigation is likely to continue beyond the conclusion of this season, so Juve’s ultimate sanction may not be imposed until the 2023-24 season. The news on Thursday instantaneously elevates Massimiliano Allegri’s squad to third place with 59 points, relegating Jose Mourinho’s Roma to fourth.
Milan and Inter, who will meet in the semifinals of the Champions League next month, are currently fifth and sixth, respectively.
While Napoli are nearly out of sight at the top of Serie A, there is still a possibility for Juventus to claim second place, in the league as they are now only two points behind Lazio with eight games remaining.
However, Fabio Paratici, the current managing director of Tottenham and a former executive of Juventus, has had his appeal against his two-and-a-half year football exile, which FIFA has extended globally, denied.
The same is true for petitions against bans imposed on former colleagues Andrea Agnelli and Federico Cherubini, whereas an appeal against Pavel Nedved’s ban has been accepted.
Since the three-hour hearing that took place on Wednesday afternoon at the Italian Council of Sports Guarantee, a verdict in favor of Juventus had become increasingly probable.
Juventus Ruling Overturned At Crucial Stage of Season
The FIGC did not present any evidence during the appeal, so the prosecutor for the Italian National Olympic Committee, Ugo Taucer, took their place.
Speaking to the soccer outlet Football Italia following the decision, the prosecutor confessed that the ruling “has a lack of clarity in the motivation that must be appreciated and evaluated by a new judgment.”
Juventus are hoping to turn their attention back to the pitch tonight in Lisbon, leading 1-0 from the first leg of the tie.
If Allegri’s side advance, they’ll face either Manchester United or Sevilla in the Europa League semi-finals.
“The match is long and will give us difficulties, they are an excellent team in terms of organization,” Allegri told Sky Italia.
“The goal is important and not simple, Sporting eliminated Arsenal,” he said, “We don’t think about the first leg but that is a challenge.”
If Juventus were to reach the Europa League final and lift the trophy, it would be a massive win for the side in such a difficult year for the club.
On Sunday, the Turin outfit face another huge clash when they take on league leaders Napoli in Serie A. While they have little chance of catching their southern rivals, a victory over the side recently vanquished from the Champions League would lay down a real marker ahead of next season.
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