Italian Judge Approves Plea Bargain for Juventus Ex-Chiefs

Pavel Nedved was one of the defendants to see his plea deal accepted | Image Denis Balibouse

Italian judge approves plea bargain deal for former Juventus executives. Juventus ex-chiefs Agnelli, Nedved, and Paratici reach plea bargain agreement. Read more.

Prosecutors initially filed charges in Turin, where Juventus is based, but the case was transferred to Rome...

A Rome court judge has accepted a plea bargain request by former Juventus executives, including ex-chairman Andrea Agnelli, ex-vice chairman Pavel Nedved, and ex-sporting director Fabio Paratici, in a false accounting case. The case centered on allegations of financial misrepresentation related to player transfers and salary arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sentences and Fines

The agreed prison sentences have been suspended, meaning the former executives will not serve time. 

The sentences include: 

• Andrea Agnelli: 1 year and 8 months suspended sentence
• Pavel Nedved: 1 year and 2 months suspended sentence
• Fabio Paratici: 1 year and 6 months suspended sentence

Juventus has been fined €156,000. Under Italian law, plea bargaining does not imply admission of guilt, and the club maintains its innocence.

Case Details

The investigation, launched in 2021, looked into potential financial irregularities, including:

• Artificially inflated transfer fees
• Salary mismanagement during the pandemic
• Misleading investors with false transaction invoices

Former CEO Maurizio Arrivabene was cleared of any wrongdoing. The case resulted in significant consequences for Juventus, including a 10-point deduction in Serie A in 2023 and exclusion from European competitions.

A Rome court judge, Anna Maria Gavoni, has accepted a plea bargain request from former Juventus executives, including ex-chairman Andrea Agnelli, to settle a false accounting case. The case revolves around allegations of financial misrepresentation related to player transfers and salary arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prosecutors initially filed charges in Turin, where Juventus is based, but the case was transferred to Rome in 2023. The charges included stock market manipulation, obstruction of supervision, and false invoicing. Agnelli and other defendants asked the judge to settle the case through a plea bargain in June, after prosecutors sought to bring them to trial.

The agreed prison sentences have been suspended and will not be served. Under Italian law, plea bargaining does not imply admission of guilt. Former CEO Maurizio Arrivabene was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Juventus and Former Executives Deny Wrongdoing

Juventus, listed on the Milan stock exchange, and its former executives have denied any wrongdoing in relation to allegations of financial misrepresentation. The club's former chairman, Andrea Agnelli, and ex-vice chairman, Pavel Nedved, were among those who accepted a plea bargain to settle the case. Despite agreeing to the plea bargain, Juventus maintains that its conduct was correct and its defensive arguments sound.

Separate Settlement with Italian Football Authorities

In May 2023, Juventus agreed to pay a fine of $790,000 as part of a settlement with Italy's soccer authorities. This settlement also included a 10-point penalty in Serie A, which was served during the 2022-2023 season. Additionally, Juventus was banned from European competitions for one year. The club accepted the settlement “in the best interest” of the company, its shareholders, and stakeholders, while reiterating its denial of wrongdoing

Plea Bargain Details

The plea bargain accepted by the Rome court includes:

• Andrea Agnelli: 1 year and 8 months suspended sentence

• Pavel Nedved: 1 year and 2 months suspended sentence

• Fabio Paratici: 1 year and 6 months suspended sentence

• Juventus: Fine of €157,000

The sentences are suspended, meaning the former executives will not serve time. The club also reached settlement agreements with certain civil parties, including Consob and consumer associations.