FIFA May Ban Italy from All Competitions for the Next 2 Years

Italy may be banned from all international competitions - including Euro 2008 - if Juventus continues to appeal outside the sportive tribunals. Actually, this is a measure that most of us were expecting after the Turin side chose to address to a civil tribunal for another Calciopoli Appeal.

FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, repeatedly stated, for about 4 or 5 years now, that he wants no political or outside involvement in the world of sports. The players, teams, officials and referees should be judged by sportive tribunals and should receive punishments inside the sport. The battle FIFA is having against external pressure has been the basis of the international body all along.

Still, the Turin side chose to appeal to a civil court, since they were unhappy with the latest Calciopoli verdict. Juve will have to play in Serie B next year and be deducted 17 points. More, the team will play their first 2 home games behind closed doors.

"Recourse to ordinary courts of law is prohibited unless specifically provided for in the FIFA regulations. To ensure the foregoing, the Associations shall insert a clause in their statutes stipulating that their clubs and members are prohibited from taking a dispute to ordinary courts of law and are required to submit any disagreement to the jurisdiction of the Association, the appropriate Confederation or FIFA", say the FIFA regulations concerning this matter.

The Italian Football Federation received a final warning from FIFA yesterday, and the Italian officials acted upon it right away. They themselves threatened Juventus late yesterday night that, unless they drop their civil court appeal, they will receive even greater punishments.