CONI has released a statement explaining the reasons for upholding a one-match closure of Juventus’ Curva Sud.
The Bianconeri were ‘perplexed’ by the ruling, which relates to violence in the Derby della Mole of March last year, in which firecrackers were thrown at Torino fans.
Juve pointed out that the perpetrator was not a season ticket holder, and in fact did not even have a ticket for the match in question, which was at the Granata’s Stadio Olimpico.
CONI has released a statement explaining the reasons for upholding a one-match closure of Juventus’ Curva Sud.
The Bianconeri were ‘perplexed’ by the ruling, which relates to violence in the Derby della Mole of March last year, in which firecrackers were thrown at Torino fans.
Juve pointed out that the perpetrator was not a season ticket holder, and in fact did not even have a ticket for the match in question, which was at the Granata’s Stadio Olimpico.
However, CONI’s Collegio di Garanzia dello Sport has today released the reasoning behind its decision.
The ruling accepts that Juventus do not have “strict liability” for what happened, but is instead related to “the mere fact that an explosive device, which is extremely dangerous for the safety of other spectators, was launched from a place – the away end, occupied by Juventus fans – which is attributable to the club which has been sanctioned”.
The decision was not based on the circumstances of the individual, but the area from which the device was thrown, making the Old Lady’s argument about tickets “irrelevant”.
It was decided that there was “no doubt” that an explosive device was launched from the Juventus section into the Torino section in the first half, which injured several people.
In addition, supporters did not look to cast the person out, or at least disassociate themselves from the individual, “on the contrary, for the remaining 89 minutes they continued to throw firecrackers and other objects, continuing a situation of serious tension and violence”.
It was pointed out that “the Codice di Giustizia punishes the behaviour of supporters, not just supporters with a fans’ card. The concept of a fan is not different from organised fans. There doesn’t need to be an investigation into the intensity of their sporting passion, or on the prevalence of violent intentions ‘above and beyond’ their sporting passion”.
Furthermore the judgement explained that just because someone may not be a season ticket holder at Juventus Stadium, they may still be considered a fan.
“Real objective facts help place this person as someone close to the fringes of the Juventus Ultras, and someone who is a frequent visitor to the Curva Sud at Juventus Stadium,” the ruling explained.
In summing up, the document insisted that the the object was thrown from an area “objectively attributable” to the Juventus fans. That meant that while the court accepted that the club could not be held directly responsible for what happened, a punishment was still merited.