Yesterday, Juventus was thrust back into a Champions League spot without having to play a game.
Earlier this season, Juventus received a 15-point penalty because of falsifying the team’s financial accounts. Yesterday, the Italian Olympic Committee reversed that decision and called for a new trial. Because of this, Juventus was awarded their 15 points back.
After the deduction, Juventus fell into the middle of the table and struggled to change their positioning. Yet, the chances of their return to the Champions League through a top 4 finish in Serie A looked bleak. Now, they are firmly in third place and the team will have to hold on to that spot.
Juventus appealed the decision to strip them of the 15 points immediately. According to ESPN, Juventus was granted their appeal, which gives them the points back for the time being. They will have a new trial to determine if there was any financial wrongdoing. It seems, however, that the trial decision won’t happen until after this season ends.
Getting those 15 points back will prove huge for Juve who is looking to bring in top-tier talent to improve their roster and compete for the Serie A title.
Finishing in the top 4 has a huge impact on potential summer signings. A lot of the top players in Europe don’t want to play for a team that doesn’t have a European competition on their schedule. Now, assuming Juve can hold on to third, they can tentatively pencil a Champions League spot into their upcoming season. With that, Juventus may, once again, be an attractive destination to players that the team will need to challenge for the Scudetto next season.