MILAN: An appeal board of Italy’s sports governing body has quashed a decision to penalise Juventus with 15 points in a case centered on the club’s transfer dealings. The national football federation has been ordered to rerun the original case.

Juventus, with eight games to play in Serie A, have thus jumped back from seventh to third with 59 points, still 16 behind leaders Napoli but back into the qualifying spots for the Champions League.

The ruling of the Italian Olympic Committee’s sports guarantee board came after Juventus challenged a sentence imposed in January over player exchange deals. Bans from office had also been imposed on 11 past and present Juventus directors, including former president Andrea Agnelli.

The CONI panel did not clear the club of wrongdoing but ruled that different judges should stage new proceedings against Juventus and the directors and come up with a more appropriate punishment.

Juventus also face potential sporting penalties, including points deductions, in a separate case over alleged irregularities in payments to players.

The original investigation followed inquiries by prosecutors in Turin over allegations of false accounting. A criminal court hearing to decide whether to order a trial for Andrea Agnelli, 11 other people and the club itself started last month.

Juventus have denied wrongdoing and said their accounting is in line with industry standards.

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