Italian Judge Approves Plea Bargain for Former Juventus Executives

A judge in Rome has approved a plea bargain involving former executives of Juventus, including ex-chairman Andrea Agnelli, in a case concerning false accounting practices. On Monday, Judge Anna Maria Gavoni accepted the plea agreements, which resulted in a sentence of one year and eight months for Agnelli and one year and two months for former vice chairman and Ballon d’Or winner Pavel Nedved. Importantly, these sentences have been suspended, meaning they will not be served.

The case focuses on allegations that Juventus misrepresented its financial statements, particularly regarding player transfers and salary arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the plea bargain does not require an admission of guilt under Italian law, it allows the defendants to resolve the matter without a lengthy trial. The judge also imposed a fine of 156,000 euros (approximately $184,000) on the club itself.

For one of the defendants, former CEO Maurizio Arrivabene, the case was dismissed entirely. The initial charges were filed in Turin, where Juventus is headquartered, but were transferred to Rome in 2023 for further proceedings. In June of this year, Agnelli and the other executives sought a plea deal after prosecutors attempted to bring them to trial on serious charges, including stock market manipulation and false invoicing.

Juventus, which is publicly traded on the Milan stock exchange, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The club previously faced sanctions from Italy’s football authorities, which included a fine and point deductions during the 2022-2023 Serie A season, along with a one-year ban from European competitions.

The resolution of this case marks a significant moment for Juventus as it seeks to move past recent controversies and refocus on its on-field performance. With these legal issues now settled for some of its key figures, the club can begin to rebuild its reputation and stability in the competitive landscape of international football.