NYON, Switzerland (AP) – UEFA removed Juventus from all European competition on Friday and Chelsea was fined 10 million euros ($11 million) for breaking UEFA’s financial rules.
The expulsion of Juventus from the Europa Conference League, the third level tournament in Europe, was expected because Serie A took 10 points from it. Due to that penalty, they fell out of the Champions League qualifying positions.
Juve’s place in said tournament will be taken by Fiorentina for the wild card round that begins on August 24.
On Friday the 28th, UEFA indicated that the team must also pay a fine of 10 million euros (11 million dollars) for breaking the rules of financial Fair Play. They could also be stripped of another 10 million euros if the club fails to comply with UEFA’s financial monitoring rules in subsequent campaigns.
Juventus regretted the punishment, but indicated that it will not appeal the decision.
“We regret the decision of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body,” club president Gianluca Ferrero said in a statement posted on his club website. “We do not share the interpretation that was given to our defense and we remain firmly convinced of the legitimacy of our actions and the validity of our arguments.”
“However, we decided not to appeal the decision. Despite the difficult decision, we will be able to face next season focused on the field and not in the courts.”
Another team that received punishment is Chelsea, which will have to pay 10 million euros (11 million dollars) to UEFA for giving incorrect information between 2012 and 2019, when the club belonged to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
The new group that took over Chelsea reported “possible incomplete financial reporting from previous owners” in May last year, UEFA confirmed.
Chelsea won the Champions League in 2012 and 2021, and did not qualify for any European tournament this year.
In December, UEFA opened an investigation against Juve for possible breaches of financial rules after Italian prosecutors revealed they were investigating the club.
The team was ultimately handed a 10-point penalty in Serie A and dropped to seventh, practically missing out on the top four spots to participate in the Champions League.
Accusations of false accounting forced UEFA’s financial investigators to end the deal with the club last year and impose new sanctions, European soccer’s governing body has admitted.
Juve’s chaotic 2022-23 campaign also led to the resignation of several officials, including president Andrea Agnelli and vice president Pavel Nedved.
