A report from Italian newspaper Il Giornale claims that around 500,000 Juventus fans have canelled their TV season tickets. The news follows the FIGC’s decision to dock the Bianconeri 15 points in this season’s Serie A campaign, a verdict that Juve are appealing to CONI.
Il Giornale, as quoted by Il Napolista, write that Serie A is at risk of a ‘tsunami’ following the cancellations, as one-third (8 million) of Serie A fans are ‘Bianconeri’ and if Italian football were to take away Juventus, Milan and Inter, the league could have to ‘close its doors.’
Juventus’ supporters have been vocal about the point’s penalty on social media, starting a protest has reportedly resulted in 500,00 cancellations of TV subscriptions.
The newspaper write that “Never before could a ruling can do damage: not so much (not only) to Juventus…, as to Italian football.”
Juve are the club with the most fans in Serie A: about 8.1 million; Combined with the two Milanese, the newspaper writes, the three account for 84 percent of the Serie A market.
Alone, Juventus account for a third of it and 7 out of 10 of their matches can be seen on TV, leading to the highest audience figures.
Juve, Milan and Inter pocket the highest amount in TV rights: about €254 million (2021-2022 season) out of €940 divided among 20 teams, almost a third. In that ranking, Juve was 2nd behind Inter Milan, ahead of Milan.
The newspaper claims the mass cancellations risk a ‘tsunami’ being unleashed that would cause the Italian league to lose it’s value in dramatic fashion.
