The verdict giving Juventus a 3-0 win and docking Napoli a point was ‘inevitable and inarguable,’ explains sports lawyer Claudio Pasqualin.
The Disciplinary Commission today ruled that Napoli had already cancelled their flight to Turin before receiving the travel ban from the local health authority (ASL), so did not follow the Serie A protocol for COVID-19 cases that all the clubs had agreed to before the season kicked off.
The verdict giving Juventus a 3-0 win and docking Napoli a point was ‘inevitable and inarguable,’ explains sports lawyer Claudio Pasqualin.
The Disciplinary Commission today ruled that Napoli had already cancelled their flight to Turin before receiving the travel ban from the local health authority (ASL), so did not follow the Serie A protocol for COVID-19 cases that all the clubs had agreed to before the season kicked off.
As a result, Napoli could not say force majeure had prevented them from fulfilling the fixture, meaning a 3-0 loss and docked point became automatic.
“The ruling is inevitable and inarguable,” assured sports legal expert Pasqualin on TuttoNapoli.
“It is entirely in line with the principles of sporting justice. Having said that, there will also inevitably now be several more episodes of this drama via the appeals process.”
Napoli had argued the ASL over-ruled the Lega Serie A protocol, but the order not to travel only came on Sunday, whereas the club had already cancelled flight and hotel stays on Saturday.
“As in any country, the State has the prevalence over sport, so Napoli will appeal based on that. However, the Disciplinary Committee ruling was entirely opportune, because there are rules to be respected and Napoli evidently didn’t do that to the full.
“There are various levels of appeal that Napoli can go through. It seems clear this is only Part One.”