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Juventus demands reduced sentence to forsake court battle
Italy - 30 August, 2006
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Juventus said a legal battle in the civil courts over their punishment for match-fixing can be avoided if the Italian football authorities reduce their punishment.
The club was exiled to Serie B and given a 17-point penalty for the start of next season for its part in the scandal, and is demanding reinstatement.
In addition, they were stripped of the league title they won last season and the season before that and were prevented from competing in the highly-lucrative Champions League.
Juventus' former general manager Luciano Moggi was the central figure in the match-fixing scandal, and it was the only club of the five found guilty of match-fixing to be relegated from Serie A.
"We have always been willing to talk to the Italian football federation (FIGC) and to the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) despite some strong words between us about our demands for reduction of our sentence," club president Giovanni Cobollo Gigli was quoted as saying by the Gazzetta dello Sport. "We have always respected the sports justice system. Our lawyers are continuing to talk with all parties."
The Local Administrative Court (TAR) will hear Juve's appeal on Friday, but the club's decision to go outside of the legal framework of Italian sports bodies is against FIGC and FIFA regulations. The TAR can overturn rulings made by sports federation bodies, but is usually reluctant to intervene in sporting issues.
"Our lawyers are speaking with those of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). Between now and Friday anything is possible," Cobolli Gigli was quoted as saying in Monday's La Gazzetta dello Sport. "All it would take is a signal to our board."
But the FIGC have said they will impose extra sanctions on the Turin-based club if they take their case outside the sporting justice system to the civil court.
The FIGC believe the decision to turn to the civil courts could delay the start of the domestic season, which is due to begin on September 9-10 after already being moved back to accommodate appeals.
The club is due Friday to appear in front of the Regional Administrative Court of Lazio.
Juventus's decision to appeal to the civil courts followed their failure to regain top division status via the Italian Olympic Committee's (CONI) court of conciliation, which is the final court of appeal in Italy's sports justice system.
Juventus has argued the punishment is too harsh. AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio maintained Serie A status with points penalties.
"We know we deserve some kind of sanction. The problem has always been the disproportionate nature of our punishment in relation to those of the other teams," said Cobolli Gigli.
He also denied media reports that Juventus was planning to sue the FIGC for EUR 130 million if they were not reinstated to Serie A.
The club was exiled to Serie B and given a 17-point penalty for the start of next season for its part in the scandal, and is demanding reinstatement.
In addition, they were stripped of the league title they won last season and the season before that and were prevented from competing in the highly-lucrative Champions League.
Juventus' former general manager Luciano Moggi was the central figure in the match-fixing scandal, and it was the only club of the five found guilty of match-fixing to be relegated from Serie A.
"We have always been willing to talk to the Italian football federation (FIGC) and to the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) despite some strong words between us about our demands for reduction of our sentence," club president Giovanni Cobollo Gigli was quoted as saying by the Gazzetta dello Sport. "We have always respected the sports justice system. Our lawyers are continuing to talk with all parties."
The Local Administrative Court (TAR) will hear Juve's appeal on Friday, but the club's decision to go outside of the legal framework of Italian sports bodies is against FIGC and FIFA regulations. The TAR can overturn rulings made by sports federation bodies, but is usually reluctant to intervene in sporting issues.
"Our lawyers are speaking with those of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). Between now and Friday anything is possible," Cobolli Gigli was quoted as saying in Monday's La Gazzetta dello Sport. "All it would take is a signal to our board."
But the FIGC have said they will impose extra sanctions on the Turin-based club if they take their case outside the sporting justice system to the civil court.
The FIGC believe the decision to turn to the civil courts could delay the start of the domestic season, which is due to begin on September 9-10 after already being moved back to accommodate appeals.
The club is due Friday to appear in front of the Regional Administrative Court of Lazio.
Juventus's decision to appeal to the civil courts followed their failure to regain top division status via the Italian Olympic Committee's (CONI) court of conciliation, which is the final court of appeal in Italy's sports justice system.
Juventus has argued the punishment is too harsh. AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio maintained Serie A status with points penalties.
"We know we deserve some kind of sanction. The problem has always been the disproportionate nature of our punishment in relation to those of the other teams," said Cobolli Gigli.
He also denied media reports that Juventus was planning to sue the FIGC for EUR 130 million if they were not reinstated to Serie A.
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