Tether’s vice-president for strategic projects, Juan Sartori, has revealed why he was unable to join the new Juventus Board of Directors, despite the company’s growing influence within the club. His exclusion, he explained, stems from UEFA’s regulations on multi-club ownership.
Last week, Juventus held its shareholders’ meeting to appoint a new Board of Directors, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Turin-based club. Damien Comolli was named the new chief executive, signalling the end of the Scanavino era and the start of closer ties with Tether. The company, led by CEO Paolo Ardoino, has acquired around 11.5 per cent of Juventus, with Francesco Garino serving as its representative on the board.
Initially, Tether had considered Sartori for the position. However, the Uruguayan businessman and politician, who also serves as vice-president of AS Monaco and co-owner of Sunderland AFC, explained that his involvement with other clubs made it impossible for him to take on the role at Juventus.
“I was supposed to join Juventus’ Board of Directors. Before next season, some rules on multi-club ownership need to be reviewed,” Sartori told Bloomberg (as quoted by Calciomercato).
UEFA regulations prohibit individuals from holding board positions in more than one club participating in European competitions. Since Sartori already sits on Monaco’s board—and both Monaco and Juventus will compete in the upcoming League Phase of the Champions League—his appointment would have violated these rules.
As a result, Sartori remains outside the Juventus boardroom, while Tether continues to assert its presence within the club through its official representative, Garino. The case underscores the complexities of UEFA’s multi-club ownership framework, an issue expected to remain in the spotlight as football’s financial and ownership structures continue to evolve.
