Juventus lawyer cites ‘devastating consequences’ in appeal

THE lawyer representing Juventus at the appeals trial in Italy’s match-fixing scandal pleaded for leniency yesterday, saying that last week’s decision by a sports tribunal to relegate the club to the second division with a 30-point penalty would have “devastating consequences”.

“Just to survive in Serie B next season we estimate that Juventus will have to earn about 80 points — equivalent to winning 27 of their 40 matches,” Cesare Zaccone told the appeal court’s panel of five judges.

Juventus were one of four clubs from Italy’s top Serie A division found guilty by the tribunal of conspiring with referees and linesmen to rig games during the 2004/05 season.