Italian paper claims Juventus were treated unfairly after Calhanoglu and Inzaghi bans on May 1

TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 16: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale controls the ball whilst under pressure from Timothy Weah of Juventus during the Serie A match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at Allianz Stadium on February 16, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport suggests that Juventus have a right to be annoyed by the one-match bans handed to Inter’s Simone Inzaghi and Hakan Calhanoglu this week, as former Juventus owner Andrea Agnelli took a significantly harsher punishment for a similar incident back in 2017. 

Why Inzaghi and Calhanoglu were given one-match bans 

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that both Inzaghi and Calhanoglu had received fines and were given one-match bans after a plea bargain following an investigation into their relationships with ultras who were not part of officially recognised supporter groups, which goes against FIGC rules. 

An investigation was launched in 2024 after the murder of Andrea Bellocco by a fellow supporter and the subsequent arrests of several ultras with suspected links to mafia families. 

It was later revealed that a number of high-profile coaches and players, including Inzaghi, Calhanoglu, Milan’s Davide Calabria and Nerazzurri vice-President Javier Zanetti had either met or had discussions with ultras and it has since been confirmed that some of those conversations broke FIGC rules. 

As a result, Inzaghi and Calhanoglu will serve one-match bans for the upcoming Serie A match against Hellas Verona on Saturday, on top of a series of fines handed to both individuals, Zanetti, Inter, Milan and the supporter liaison officers attached to both clubs. 

The punishments given to Inzaghi and Calhanoglu were the result of a plea bargain, which means they avoided a potentially harsher punishment by cooperating with the investigation. 

Why Tuttosport claims Juventus should be annoyed by Calhanoglu and Inzaghi bans 

Turin-based outlet Tuttosport have published an article claiming that ‘justice is not equal’, owing to the fact that Inzaghi and Calhanoglu were given fines and one-match bans, while Agnelli took a 12-month suspension that was later reduced to three months for a similar incident in 2017. 

The Alto Piemonte investigation into the Ndrangheta syndicate in 2017 alleged that Agnelli had discussions with individuals suspected of having ties to mafia or criminal organisations, which was later found to be untrue. 

Still, Agnelli was originally handed a 12-month ban, later reduced to three months, which Tuttosport questions given that Calhanoglu and Inzaghi were given one-match bans for a similar accusation. 

Tuttosport also questions the fact that the ruling was delivered on May 1, a bank holiday in Italy, and a day where none of the daily sport newspapers are published. 

There have also been suggestions, not from Tuttosport, that it is convenient timing for Inzaghi and Calhanoglu to serve one-match bans for the match against Verona, a game which is expected to bring up to 10 changes to the starting XI anyway given the upcoming Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona on Tuesday. 

Tuttosport’s article claims that Inter and Juventus were treated differently by the relevant authorities, labelling it an ‘abysmal difference in treatment’ and accuses the Federal Prosecutor’s Office of acting ‘softly’ in the Inzaghi-Calhanoglu case. 

Tuttosport does add that the paper doesn’t feel Inzaghi and Calhanoglu should have been given harsher punishments, as they are considered victims rather than instigators.