Mattia Grassani, a respected lawyer known for his expertise in sports law, painted a grim picture for Juventus amidst the investigation into hidden salary payments.
The Bianconeri are currently under investigation for allegedly agreeing secret deals with their players to pay them three months’ worth of wages, despite publicly stating that the squad had agreed to waiver four monthly salary payments in the early stages of the COVID pandemic. Reports have suggested that up to 17 players and €60m in total were involved in this.
Speaking to Radio Rai1, Grassani first discussed the possible penalties that Juventus face in this case.
“This I think is the heaviest investigation in the history of Juventus, even heavier than that of Calciopoli in 2006. The unlawful behaviour they’re accused of has no precedent.
“On a sporting level they risk more than the fine or a modest penalty. All this could lead to a heavy penalty because the rule states that if there is alteration of documents, such as private papers, it can lead to consequences greater than a simple penalty.
“The rule states that if the club has entered the season thanks to these expedients, they can be excluded from it, it can lead to relegation and even the loss of Scudetti.”
He suggested that things would move quickly in this case.
“Sports justice has a very short timeframe, unlike civil justice. It would be concluded immediately, by 2022-23, and would have immediate results.”
The lawyer gave his thoughts on the Juventus board of directors’ mass resignation.
“The en bloc resignation is reminiscent of the choice made in 2006 by Moggi, Giraudo and Bettega. It is certainly a positive sign in a worrying picture.
“Juventus in this way has cut off the past but it is not enough to reduce the seriousness of the facts, if ascertained. It is a signal that says a lot about the club’s desire to isolate the elements involved.
“The risk of reiteration of the crime is no longer there after the resignation, so I think that there is no risk of precautionary arrest and that the proceedings will continue with the defendants at large.”
Grassani discussed if this investigation was worse for Juventus than Calciopoli.
“Then the Juventus system was to pollute the refereeing system from the top. Today, the fact that the same protagonists speak of a situation worse than Calciopoli, shows an awareness of even more serious behaviour than in 2006.
“It is one thing to approach referees, it is another to drug the club’s accounts. This violates competition with other clubs and distorts the regularity of the league. I cannot put capital into the club through Panini stickers or Monopoly cards to alter my situation.”
He spoke about UEFA’s decision to start proceedings against Juventus.
“The situation with UEFA is not very deep. Even for UEFA it is a unique situation, because the other proceedings involved overruns in relation to Financial Fair Play. In those situations there was a blocking of the market, but this is a different situation.”
Finally, Grassani discussed if the sports judicial path and criminal judicial path could be intertwined.
“Technically they are two independent paths. In many cases we have seen acquittals on one side and convictions on the other.
“Sports justice will come first and criminal investigations will not have reached a verdict in the meantime.
“Clearly it will have to take criminal justice into account, but the criterion will be autonomous. The movement must eliminate bad apples whether it is Juventus or Borgorosso FC.”
Relegation is the bare minimum sentence
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