Make no doubt, the financial scandal surrounding Juventus is very serious and could significantly damage the club in the long run, but that depends on how far this particular scandal spreads.
Right now, there’s a lot of speculation and hyperbole and to some extent conjecture, but we do know what the actual criminal charges are, what we don’t know at the time of writing is what charges will be filed at the sporting level.
Those are two very separate areas and will have different effects on the club.
Sporting charges would significantly affect the club on the pitch, while criminal charges, in theory, should not affect the club in terms of points, relegation, transfer bans, etc.
I’m not a lawyer, but listening to certain people, there’s no chance the club will fold or anything based on the criminal charges, there will probably be fines and possibly even jail sentences for some people, but the club, like a whole, would survive relatively unscathed.
This situation is purely financial and should in no way be compared to the calciopoli scandal of 2006, it was all for sporting integrity and that’s why Juve was relegated, that’s not the case this time.
That doesn’t mean sporting charges won’t be brought, UEFA would probably love the chance to slap Juventus around, but they have to operate within the law, the court of arbitration will not allow Juve to be unfairly punished.
If Juventus can keep this a purely financial matter, it will be detrimental to the club, but it shouldn’t present an existential threat, it may set the club back a season or two, but fines can be paid, new executives hired and a fresh start made. .
Everything depends on the extent of this scandal and the hope is that it will continue to be a criminal matter and not a sports one.
Sure it is serious, but it will be much worse if the situation becomes sporty, then the real problems will begin.
Do you want to know more about the Juve scandal?
Then check out this video from the great people on the Italian soccer podcast.
