According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus do not only risk a European ban but could also get a multimillion-euro fine following a UEFA investigation.
The European Football governing body has obtained documents from the Turin Prosecutor regarding the ‘Prisma’ criminal investigation involving the Bianconeri and several of their ex-club directors, including President Andrea Agnelli.
Juventus seem ready to negotiate a plea bargain but this phase will only begin at the end of the UEFA investigation. As highlighted by Gazzetta, the judge could make a proposal to Juventus, which the club can either accept or refuse, offering their terms for the agreement.
The Bianconeri hope they can find a way to negotiate with UEFA, especially after confirming their withdrawal from the Super League earlier in June.
The Serie A giants had already shaken hands on a settlement agreement with UEFA which allowed the club to pay a €3m fine rather than €23m. However, it may be scratched if the investigation proves Juventus altered their balance sheets.
According to Gazzetta’s report, failure to meet the financial targets will increase the fine from €4 to €23m. Moreover, if the judge believes Juventus’ alleged wrongdoing was ‘serious’ he may impose a punishment and refuse to negotiate with the Bianconeri.
If talks over a plea bargain take place, Juventus would not directly request exclusion from the 2023-24 Conference League but would accept such a scenario, if offered by the judge, without an appeal.
On the other hand, a longer European ban would prompt the Bianconeri to file an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to have a sentence by the beginning of August when UEFA need to know the clubs involved in European competitions.
If Juventus are banned from the 2023-24 Conference League, Fiorentina will replace them having finished behind the Old Lady in Serie A last season.