Juventus: Italian Prosecutors Call For Club's Board to Face Trial
The Facts
Turin-based prosecutors stated on Thursday that they're seeking indictments for former Juventus Football Club SpA Chairman Andrea Agnelli and a dozen other board members on charges ranging from market manipulation to false accounting and obstruction of regulatory activities.
This request follows the en masse resignation of the Board of Directors, including Agnelli, earlier this week and comes as the northern Italian club's accounting and statements made to financial markets have been investigated over the past three years.
The Spin
Narrative A
Juventus has long been accused of violating UEFA financial rules, and the resignation of its board of directors came with an admission that it had committed accounting irregularities. Authorities must impose sanctions on the Italian club to protect soccer and ensure that sustainability rules are adhered to.
Narrative B
There should be no hurry to punish Juventus before a trial has been held, especially because the soccer world is going through tense moments across Europe. In addition, these allegations aren't aligned with the findings contained in the Consob resolution of October this year, neither in terms of assumptions nor as to conclusions.
