Juventus president banned for one year for selling tickets to mafia

Andrea Agnelli is banned from taking charge of Juventus for the next year after being found guilty of selling tickets to a mafia-linked fan group.

The 41-year-old businessman was also fined $23,709. Juventus was fined $355,635. Three other members of the club's board of directors were also banned.

Agnelli was accused of interfering with ticket sales, which were then resold at a huge profit to fan groups, some of whom were linked to criminal organisations. Juventus and Agnelli plan to appeal.

Agnelli has trouble with Juventus' ticket sales. Photo: AFP.

Prosecutor Giuseppe Pecoraro proposed a 30-month ban and a $59,273 fine for Agnelli at a hearing with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). He also suggested Juventus be punished by playing two matches behind closed doors.

"I am only partly satisfied because the crimes of those involved have been proven, but what has been found is much more serious. In my opinion, they should be punished more severely. Therefore, we will appeal," Pecoraro told AFP.

Agnelli denies any involvement with Rocco Dominello, a fan who is believed to be close to the N'drangheta crime syndicate. However, he has met Dominello, who was sentenced to seven years in prison.

But the court found that Agnelli did not know Dominello when he met him. In the ruling, the court noted that Agnelli was "completely unaware" that he was committing a crime.

Agnelli said he met with a group of extremists in May to make sure they did not feel discriminated against. Juventus said they would not ask Agnelli to resign even if he was convicted.

According to VNE