Juventus President Given One-Year Ban For This Reason

Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has received a one-year ban as punishment for his role in the sale of match tickets to supporters’ group with mafia links.

Agnelli, 41, was banned alongside three club officials with the president of the Italian champions fined 20,000 euros (£17,600). Juventus have also been fined to 300,000 euros (£264,000).

Andrea Agnelli was accused of facilitating the sale of tickets, later resold at a big profit, to ‘ultras’ fans, some allegedly linked to organised crime.

Agnelli and Juventus plan to appeal against the verdict from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) hearing.

Italian prosecutor Giuseppe Pecoraro had earlier requested a 30-month suspension as well as a 50,000 euro (£44,000) fine for Agnelli at the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) hearing in addition to his request for Juventus to be ordered to play two games behind closed doors.

Speaking after the hearing, Pecoraro told AFP that stiffer sanctions should have been handed out to offenders.

“I’m partly satisfied because we’ve been able to prove the guilt of everyone involved, but the findings were so serious that, in my opinion, they should have been punished more, so we’ll appeal.”

“I think going to another court will be useful, bearing in mind they went to organised crime, and that is very serious,” he added.

Agnelli has denied dealing with Rocco Dominello, who is a supporter that’s reportedly close to Calabria-based N’drangheta mafia group. He however revealed that he had earlier met Dominello, who was sentenced to seven years in jail.

The court said Agnelli was not guilty of knowingly meeting with Dominello, and wrote via its ruling the Juventus president was “totally unaware” of any illegality.