In a landmark decision that could trigger a revolution in Italian sports justice, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled in favor of former Juventus executives Andrea Agnelli and Maurizio Arrivabene. According to the ruling, European Union law precludes national legislation that prevents ordinary courts from annulling illegal sporting sanctions, shifting the balance of power between sports bodies and ordinary courts.
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Subscribe Sekarang →The case originated from a referral by the TAR del Lazio, which was tasked with examining the compatibility of the disciplinary sanctions imposed on the former Juventus leaders with fundamental EU freedoms. Previously, Italian law only permitted ordinary courts to award financial compensation rather than annul sporting bans, such as the 24-month and 16-month suspensions handed to Andrea Agnelli and Maurizio Arrivabene respectively in the capital gains (plusvalenze) case.
Based on reports from Tuttosport, the CJEU confirmed that individuals facing career-impacting bans must have the right to seek annulment and interim relief before an ordinary judge. This landmark judgment fundamentally challenges the absolute autonomy historically enjoyed by the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) and other sports federations.
Editorial team observations from ongoing monitoring indicate that this ruling could disrupt the current structure of Italian sports justice. The Luxembourg judges also expressed concerns over the appointment and dismissal process of sports judges, noting the potential conflict of interest where federation presidents hold the power to appoint the very judges meant to oversee them.
Although both Andrea Agnelli and Maurizio Arrivabene have already served their respective bans, the legal victory sets a massive precedent. While their lost time cannot be restored, the ruling opens the door for a complete legislative overhaul, as CONI and the Italian government are already discussing sports justice reforms that must now align with binding EU law.