Juventus have been punished for their involvement in yet another scandal. Initially, they had been docked 15 points in Serie A for 'financial irregularities' and 'false accounting' in relation to past transfer dealings. The ruling was, however, reversed after they appealed it at the supreme sports court of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). They have now been deducted 10 points again and this time the ruling came with bans for multiple ex-board members. Former chairman and European Super League advocate, Andrea Agnelli, who stepped down last November, has been banned from holding office in Italian football for 24 months, while Pavel Nedved has been banned for eight months. Ex-sporting director Fabio Paratici has been banned for 30 months, but that suspension was partially reduced.

It is not the first time that the Italian powerhouse are facing controversy. Back in the year 2006, the Old Lady was relegated to the Italian Serie B in the famous 'Calciopoli' scandal in which they were found guilty of being involved in match-fixing. In addition to being relegated during that time, they were fined heavily and even stripped of titles. The saga they find themselves in that has cost them 10 Serie A points is related to their finances and capital gains (Plusvalenza). Plusavalenza basically means the profit made from the sale of a player from one club to another. Italian prosecutors took umbrage with several of Juventus' dealings, including the now-infamous swap deal with Barcelona involving midfielders Arthur and Miralem Pjanic. Of the 62 transfers investigated, 42 of them involved Juventus. Other clubs under investigation, Sampdoria, Pro Vercelli, Genoa, Parma, Pisa, Empoli, Novara, and Pescara have now all been acquitted. 

The club is also being looked at for claiming to have saved €90 million (£78m/$97m) thanks to wage reductions in 2020 due to COVID-19. Juventus initially denied any wrongdoing after the initial punishment was announced, saying in a press release: "The Company awaits the publication of the reasons and announces as of now the appeal to the Sports Guarantee College in terms of the Sports Justice Code." Juventus have now dropped down to 7th place after the new 10 points deduction. However, they could still qualify to compete in Europe if results go their way in their final two matches of the season. They will take on AC Milan on Sunday in the last game of the and Massimiliano Allegri now has the unenviable task of rallying his players in order to save their season. 

(Image: Times of India)