Napoli fan, promoter removed from Juventus case – 03/22/2023 – Sport

One of three prosecutors accusing 36-time Serie A champions Juventus of financial misconduct has dropped the case after disparaging comments he made about the team emerged. The information is from a source with direct knowledge of the subject.

In a video recorded at a legal conference in Milan in 2019, a year before the opening of the inquiry into Juventus, prosecutor Ciro Santoriello says: “I’m a big fan of Napoli, I hate Juventus”.

“As a football fan, I worry about Napoli. As a promoter, I am against Juventus, against stealing on the pitch,” he added.

Turin-based Juventus were relegated to Serie B in 2006 for their part in a match-fixing scandal centered on the allocation of referees.

The video of the prosecutor’s speeches, which has circulated widely on social media in recent months, angered the Italian club’s supporters and raised questions about a possible bias in the club’s investigation. Santoriello did not question the authenticity of the video.

Turin public prosecutors have asked former Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, 11 others and the club itself to stand trial over allegations of false accounting.

The club denied wrongdoing and said its accounting was in line with industry standards.

Court hearing

The source quoted by Reuters news agency said prosecutor Santoriello communicated his decision to Turin’s chief prosecutor, saying he wanted to avoid possible media pressure on the trial after the video resurfaced.

Santoriello could not immediately be reached for comment.

A preliminary hearing is set to begin on Monday to decide whether to send the defendants to trial or acquit them. These hearings can last for months.

He will be attended by the other two prosecutors in charge of the investigation, the source said.

The Turin investigation triggered a separate investigation into the club’s finances by Italy’s sporting authority, which resulted in Juventus losing 15 points this season. The team is currently in seventh place with 41 points. Napoli, the promoter’s team, leads with 71 points.

Juventus appealed the decision to the Italian Sport Assurance Board. A hearing on the case is scheduled for April 19.