Juventus plead for leniency

الأحد، 23 يوليه 2006 - 20:28

كتب : Amro Hassan

لقطة لفريق اليوفنتوس في الموسم الماضي

Juventus lawyers have asked the Italian federal court for a lighter sentence in their appeal of the club's regulation to Serie B and the deduction 30 points from their next season's account.

In their appeal on Saturday, the club lawyers demanded lifting up the deduction sanction as it increases the club's chances of a further relegation to Serie C1.

"We estimate that Juventus will have to earn around 80 points, the equivalent of winning 27 matches, to just survive in Serie B next season," Gazzetta Dello Sport quoted lawyer Cesare Zaccone as saying during the hearing on Saturday.

Zaccone highlighted the fact that the club are already feeling the consequences of the verdict with a number of stars leaving, as well as lost sponsorship and reduced revenues from television.

"The career of a footballer is short, and some of our best players are world champions, none of them wants to risk two years in Serie B or a possible relegation to Serie C1," he said.

The Italian champions were stripped of their 2005 and 2006 League titles, plus the demotion and points deduction verdicts after being found guilty in the match-fixing scandal.

The court's decision over the appeal is expected to be issued by Wednesday and Zaccone said that they're hoping they can get a better sentence this time.

"We're optimistic, I found an attentive court and they were taking lots of notes," Zaccone said.

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