Juventus are waiting for the sporting judge’s ruling after a section of the Curva Sud turned their backs on the pitch during the minute of silence for Sandro Mazzola before Sunday’s match against Atalanta. What happened in Turin has moved beyond a single ugly gesture: it has reopened the question of how clubs and football authorities can identify and punish collective misconduct without placing the burden on the wider support.
The decision
Gerardo Mastrandrea, the sporting judge, is expected to rule after examining the reports submitted by federal officials positioned at pitchside and beneath the Juventus end. A substantial fine appears the most likely immediate sanction, although the scale of the punishment remains uncertain.
The disciplinary code allows for a fine of up to €50,000. It also permits the closure of the sector involved, or part of it, and there remains the possibility of a further investigation by the FIGC prosecutor before a final disciplinary outcome is reached.
If the authorities opt for a stadium restriction, Juventus could face the closure of all or part of the Curva Sud for the home fixture against Lazio at the Allianz Stadium on 18 October, following the international break. One option under consideration would be to make any closed area available to youth teams or families instead.
At Continassa, Juventus are considering their own legal and practical response. Since August 2017, Italian clubs have been able to use the so-called “code of approval”, withdrawing or suspending access rights for supporters whose behaviour breaches stadium rules.
That instrument has been used before, but generally in cases involving a small number of identifiable individuals. Sunday’s incident involved dozens of people, making it far more difficult for Juventus to take swift action against specific ticket holders.
FIGC president Giovanni Malagò called for those responsible to be identified with precision, saying they had embarrassed the overwhelming majority of spectators. He described Mazzola as a great player who served Italy and noted his family’s connection with Turin, adding that Juventus should be viewed as a victim of the episode and that punishment should fall on the individuals involved.
Former Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio also condemned the display. He said Mazzola belongs to the history of Italian football and that history deserves respect. While acknowledging the love, passion and commitment associated with the Juventus shirt, Marchisio argued that rivalry, pride and belonging can never remove the obligation to respect others.
Sunday’s picture
The scene came before Juventus-Atalanta, when the stadium was asked to honour Mazzola. Instead, part of the home end chose to turn away from the field during the silence, an act that prompted immediate outrage across Italian football.
The episode has left Juventus with an uncomfortable week between the matchday and the next league appointment. The club are now considering what can be done internally, while the sporting justice system determines whether a fine will be sufficient or whether a section of the Allianz Stadium must be closed.
For a league in which rivalries are central to every Sunday afternoon, the response will matter. The argument is not about reducing passion in the stands, but about drawing a line when remembrance and basic respect are disregarded.
