TURIN, Oct 5: Napoli is likely to be handed a 3-0 defeat by the Italian league�s judge for failing to show for its Serie A match against Juventus.
Napoli did not travel to Turin for the game after local health authorities ordered the squad into quarantine after two players tested positive for the coronavirus � midfielders Piotr Zielinski and Eljif Elmas.
Juventus followed its regular matchday routine on Sunday and arrived at the stadium for the scheduled 8:45 p.m. (1845 GMT) kickoff.
In somewhat farcical scenes, several players walked out onto the field while a limited number of fans watched from the stands.
It will not be known whether Juventus will be awarded a 3-0 win by default � or if the match has simply been postponed � until next week�s disciplinary commission, where Napoli will make its case.
�The sporting rules are clear and say that if a team does not show up, they face disciplinary sanctions,� Juventus president Andrea Agnelli said.
�The Sporting Judge will speak tomorrow, and based on his decision, there will be further reflections.
�It is evident that the fact that a team does not reach a stadium to play a planned match does not give a great image of Italian soccer, but we are provincial and we care little about what happens outside our borders, without considering the damage we do to soccer internationally.�
Vincenzo Spadafora, Italy�s sports minister, said he would also speak about the issue with the heads of the Italian soccer federation and the league, in two meetings already scheduled for Monday. � AP
