Leading Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport this weekend reported claims Juve could find themselves demoted if allegations of collusion with referees in key matches are proved.
Italian FA, the FIGC, and Juve bosses have been at the centre of a probe into relations between the two after private conversations between FIGC officials and Juve bosses were published. The conversations revolved around refereeing appointments for both domestic and European games.
The heat on the situation was turned up when the Naples public prosecutor confirmed Juve, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio were all being formally investigated for alleged match-fixing last season.
Should Juve get demoted, they would lose their lucrative £60m-a-year TV deal with Mediaset and satellite-TV group Sky – and would see their contract with sportswear giant Nike put in jeopardy.
Reports say the TV deal would be reduced to just £2m-a-year, while the £7m Nike deal would be slashed in half. The clubs £15m-a-year sponsorship with Tamoil would also be in doubt.
Meanwhile, Juve general manager Luciano Moggi – who was involved in the tapped phone calls, has followed the board of the directors by quitting the club.
Ironically, amid the hullabaloo, Juventus were this weekend crowned Serie A champions for the second year in a row.
