The magistrate in Turin has outlined where Juventus could be in serious trouble, as while capital gains are difficult to prove, there is ‘strong evidence’ of wage payments that are ‘certainly illicit.’
The Bianconeri find themselves the subject of three separate investigations now, as after the Turin prosecutor and the FIGC, this evening UEFA announced the formal opening of an investigation into potential breaches of the Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play regulations.
The issue started around the so-called plusvalenze, capital gains from exchanging players with other clubs at allegedly inflated transfer fees, therefore making it seem as if more assets were circulating than in reality.
There was already one investigation and suggested trial, which was dismissed because it is practically impossible to ‘prove’ the value of a player, other than what two clubs agree for his fee.
That then uncovered paperwork pointing towards a rather more obvious and problematic practice, suggesting Juventus players might’ve been paid wages under the table to avoid putting them on the books.
The entire squad signed agreements foregoing the payment of four months of salaries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, it is reported the players only really gave up one month and the rest was paid separately.
This is the area that magistrate Ludovico Morello is focusing on in his report, according to news agency ANSA, calling this agreement “certainly illicit” and providing the prosecutor with “strong evidence” of wrongdoing.
However, the same magistrate also rejected the request from the prosecutor for an arrest warrant, insisting this happened in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID crisis and therefore was “in an historic period that is no longer current.”
The magistrate saw no risk the matter could be repeated again now.