Napoli has won the appeal over abandoned Juventus game amid coronavirus outbreak

Napoli’s petition against the decision to hand them a 3-0 defeat and deduct one point after failing to play their Serie A match at Juventus in October amid confusion over Italian football’s coronavirus rules was successful.

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) confirmed that its Guarantee Board, the highest tribunal in Italian sport, had accepted Napoli’s appeal and ordered that the match be played.

The decision however leaves Napoli and Juventus level on 24 points after playing 12 games.

Juventus – who are chasing a 10th successive title – had been third with 27 points previously but with the decision, they would have to rightfully earn the three points that was formerly handed to them.

On October 4, Napoli did not travel to Turin for the Juve game citing advice from their local health authority (ASL) asking the players to stay at home after two members of their squad tested positive for COVID-19.

However, the Serie A turned down Napoli’s request to call the game off which resulted in bizarre scenes at the Allianz Stadium.

Juventus named their team, the match officials were present as well but after waiting until 45 minutes after the scheduled kick-off time, the game was officially abandoned.

Serie A’s disciplinary tribunal, in handing Napoli a 3-0 defeat and deducting a point, rejected the club’s claim of force majeure and said there was a clear health protocol for professional football.

Napoli subsequently lost a first appeal at the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).