Napoli Under Scrutiny: Transfer Deals Could Result in Points Deduction

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) prosecutors have received documents from Rome’s Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding an investigation into alleged false accounting involving Napoli and its president Aurelio De Laurentiis. This development has reignited concerns about a potential points deduction for the club.

The investigation focuses on several transfer deals, including the high-profile acquisition of Victor Osimhen from Lille in 2020 for €71 million. This transaction also involved the transfer of Napoli’s third-choice goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis and three youth players to Lille, valued at €20 million. Additionally, the probe examines the Kostas Manolas-Amadou Diawara swap deal with Roma.

Federal prosecutor Giuseppe Chiné has 30 days to decide whether to reopen the sporting trial based on new evidence. This situation mirrors the recent Juventus case, where new information led to a reopened investigation and subsequent points deduction.

It’s worth noting that Napoli and De Laurentiis were previously cleared of wrongdoing related to these transfers in April 2022. However, if significant new evidence emerges, the case could be reopened, potentially resulting in a points deduction for the reigning Serie A champions.

The severity of any potential punishment would depend on the specific violations uncovered. While Juventus received a 10-point deduction for systematic use of inflated transfer values, Napoli’s case involves fewer transactions under scrutiny.

As the investigation unfolds, the football world awaits Chiné’s decision on whether to pursue further action against Napoli, which could impact their current season standings.