The Lazio Regional Administrative Court (TAR) has dismissed an appeal aimed at stripping Juventus of their 2018-19 Serie A championship title, reports ANSA via Sportface.
The appeal, lodged by the Associazione Club Napoli Maradona and Codacons, sought to reassign the title to Napoli, based on allegations of financial misconduct by Juventus during that season and subsequent years.
The case revolved around accusations that Juventus had manipulated player values on their financial statements, enabling them to sign players beyond their supposed financial capacity, thereby potentially skewing the competitive balance of the league.
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The appeal was aimed at overturning the January 30, 2023, decision by the FIGC Court of Appeal, which, while recognizing Juventus’ actions, did not revoke their championship or impose severe penalties like relegation or a substantial points deduction that could have handed the title to Napoli.
The TAR, however, found the appeal inadmissible, citing that the appellants, the Maradona Club Association and Codacons, lacked the necessary legal standing or personal interest in the matter.
The court emphasized that these entities were essentially acting in place of SSC Napoli Spa to claim the title, which directly benefits Napoli, thus violating the principle of prohibition of procedural substitution under the Italian legal system.
“The appellants do not hold a direct, personal interest in the outcome of this appeal but are instead attempting to assert rights that belong to another entity,” stated the TAR in its ruling, effectively upholding Juventus’ claim to the 2018-19 Serie A title.
This decision by the TAR del Lazio brings a measure of closure to one of the more contentious issues in recent Italian football, affirming Juventus’ championship and setting a precedent on how similar appeals might be handled in the future regarding club titles and financial fairness in sports.
