Juventus director Paratici under investigation over Luis Suarez’s Italian exam

Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici is facing a criminal investigation following allegations of irregularities when Luis Suarez took an Italian citizenship exam.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Perugia declared in September, when Juventus were looking to sign Suarez from Barcelona, that it was looking at claims a mark for the test may have been pre-agreed.

Perugia’s finance police had already been in the process of investigating the University for Foreigners in Perugia when they raised concerns about the exam undertaken by Uruguayan Suarez.

Juventus wanted Suarez to secure Italian citizenship to ensure they did not exceed the permitted quota of non-EU players in their squad.

Suarez eventually joined Atletico Madrid instead, and Juventus have denied any wrongdoing.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Turin-based club said: “Juventus Football Club confirms that today Fabio Paratici has been notified of information regarding the guarantee and the right of defence.

“The crime alleged by the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Perugia is exclusively Article 371 bis of the Criminal Code.”

That article is titled ‘False information to the prosecutor or the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court’.

Juventus added: “The club strongly reiterates the correctness of Paratici’s work and is confident that the ongoing investigations will help clarify his position within a reasonable time.”