The Prisma investigation, a high-profile judicial case involving Juventus and several of its former executives, may soon reach a decisive turning point. The case centres on allegations of false capital gains and salary manoeuvres during the Covid-19 period, which have cast a long shadow over Italian football and led to significant sporting penalties for the club.
Plea Bargain Requests and Proposed Sentences
IlBianconero report that during a recent hearing, lawyers representing Juventus and its former top management formally requested a plea bargain after reaching an agreement with the prosecution. The proposed sentences are as follows:
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Andrea Agnelli (former president): 1 year and 8 months, suspended sentence
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Pavel Nedved (former vice president): 1 year and 2 months
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Fabio Paratici (former sporting director): 1 year and 6 months
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Cesare Gabasio (former legal counsel): 1 year and 6 months
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Stefano Cerrato (former Chief Financial Officer): 1 year
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Maurizio Arrivabene (former CEO): request for dismissal of charges
All proposed sentences are suspended, meaning no actual jail time would be served if the plea bargains are accepted. For Arrivabene, the prosecution has asked for dismissal due to insufficient evidence.
Charges and Allegations
The charges brought forward by prosecutors include market manipulation, false corporate communications by a publicly listed company, fraudulent statements through the use of invoices for fictitious operations, and obstruction of regulatory authorities. The investigation has focused on alleged accounting irregularities in Juventus’ financial statements from 2019 to 2021, particularly regarding the artificial inflation of player values and irregular management of player salaries.
Compensation and Civil Parties
The defendants have expressed their willingness to compensate Consob (the Italian financial markets regulator) and to address the claims of nearly 200 civil parties, including shareholders and consumer associations, who have joined the proceedings as injured parties. This gesture is seen as a move that could facilitate the acceptance of the plea bargains by the judge.
Next Steps and Timeline
The final decision now rests with Anna Maria Gavoni, the judge for the preliminary hearing at the Rome court. The ruling on whether to accept the plea bargains or proceed to a full trial is scheduled for September 22. If the plea agreements are accepted, it could bring a swift conclusion to one of the most debated legal cases in recent Italian football history, potentially closing the Prisma chapter before the end of the year.
