Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 9y

Juventus 'greatly perplexed' by punishment over Turin derby

Juventus are to appeal the Italian FA (FIGC)'s decision to close the South Stand of their stadium for one match due to a fan's misbehaviour during their 2-1 defeat at Torino last season.

One Juve fan -- identified by CCTV cameras -- was seen throwing a cherry bomb from the visiting fans' sector into the area where home fans were located at Torino's Stadio Olimpico during April's derby.

Juve were initially ordered to close part of their ground for two matches towards the end of last season, but an appeal saw that sanction lifted temporarily, allowing the club to receive their Serie A trophy in front of a full house at the Juventus Stadium.

The FIGC has now ruled on Juve's appeal and reduced the closure to one game, and said this will now be enforced for the Bianconeri's opening fixture of the new season against Udinese on Aug. 23.

Juve said they now plan to make a further appeal to the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).

A club statement indicated that they feel their city rivals should be held responsible for allowing the spectator -- who was banned from entering any stadium in Italy -- to gain access to the ground.

Italian rules on ticket sales stipulate that all ticket holders must be named and possess valid identity documents.

A statement on the Italian champions' official website read: "Juventus Football Club is greatly perplexed by the decision reached by the FIGC's Court of Appeal today.

"When the perpetrator of the crime was identified and arrested, we were able to demonstrate that the perpetrator:

- was inside the Stadio Olimpico in Turin for an event organised by another club, was not in possession of a ticket and did not appear on the list of Juventus fans present in the visiting supporters section
- was already subject to a ban on attending sporting events (D.A.SPO.)
- is not a Juventus season ticket holder

"It is thus unclear how the club can be held responsible, even objectively, for the perpetrator's actions. Juventus and its fans must not be made to pay for the failings and inefficiencies of others."

Torino were fined €30,000 -- reduced from €50,000 -- and have accepted the punishment, suggesting that Juve do the same.

Torino said on their official website: "The statement released by Juventus today raises a lot of perplexity and concern because the person who committed the crime has been identified and arrested.

"He was known to the authorities, and so too was his allegiance with Juventus. Furthermore, he was in the visiting fans' sector, exactly where -- thanks to the precise reconstruction of the investigators -- the cherry bomb that exploded in the Torino fans' section was thrown from.

"We believe that Juventus should accept the judgment of the ruling authorities. That is an act of civility. Sentences are meant to be respected, not remarked upon."

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