Juventus have plummeted down the Serie A table after receiving a 15-point deduction for alleged financial irregularities and false accounting in the 'Plusvalenza' scandal.
The Italian Football Federation investigated the way Juventus and other clubs dealt with player exchange deals and announced their punishments on Friday evening. The Old Lady deny the charges and will launch an appeal to Italy's highest sports court.
Several former executives have also received bans - including Tottenham's director of football Fabio Paratici, who worked for Juventus for more than a decade. It is believed these punishments only apply to Italian football, but this still needs to be clarified.
Juventus were third in the Serie A table - 10 points behind leaders Napoli - but have slipped to 10th due to their punishment. Their hopes of winning the Serie A title are all but over and they must go on an impressive winning run to salvage European football.
Massimiliano Allegri's side are 12 points behind Lazio in fourth - the final Champions League qualification spot. They are also the 12 points behind both Atalanta in fifth (Europa League qualification spot) and Roma in sixth (Europa Conference League).
Juventus' points deduction has placed greater emphasis on the Coppa Italia. They face Lazio at home in the quarter-finals on February 2 and the winners of that tournament will qualify for next season's Europa League. It might be their best route into Europe.
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Yet this could all change. Juventus will appeal the decision with the Italian Olympic Committee - the country's highest sports court. There's a chance their points deduction could be overturned or reduced, which will have a big impact on the Serie A table.
Runaway leaders Napoli, who are nine points ahead of AC Milan in second after hammering Juventus 5-1 in their most recent outing, will not be too concerned. Yet Milan, Inter Milan, Lazio, Atalanta and Roma will all have one eye on the appeal.
In terms of the individual bans, Tottenham will be worried. Paratici has received a 30-month ban and Spurs are seeking clarification as to whether this extends beyond Italy. There is no suggestion Paratici has been involved in any wrongdoing at Tottenham.
Juventus' former chair Andrea Agnelli and former chief executive Maurizio Arrivabene, who was once the team principal of Ferrari's F1 team, have both received 24-month bans. The club's former vice-president Pavel Nedved has also been banned for eight months.
Perhaps the most important individual punishment, from Juventus' perspective, is sporting director Federico Cherubini's 16-month ban. Cherubini is still an active employee and his ban will force Juventus to replace him. Individuals bans are also set to be appealed.
Juventus' entire board resigned two months ago after the investigation was launched into their alleged financial irregularities. The Italian giants also published an annual loss of £220million for the 2021/22 campaign, which is a club record.
