ROME, Aug 23: The Italian football federation wrote to FIFA on Wednesday saying it would impose extra sanctions on Juventus if the club turn to a civil court to try to overturn their relegation after a match-fixing scandal.

The letter, confirmed by the Italian federation (FIGC), said FIGC would not “hesitate to launch the sanction process” if Juve lodge an appeal with the regional Lazio court, as they have said they will.

FIGC said Juve have not yet formally lodged their appeal.

A soccer tribunal ruling on the match-fixing scandal stripped Juve of their last two Italian titles and demoted them to the second division, where they will start this season minus 17 points.

A FIGC official said the federation could deduct three more points if Juve go ahead with the appeal, leaving them at minus 20. Juventus officials were not immediately available for comment.

Four other clubs implicated in the scandal – AC Milan, Lazio, Fiorentina and Reggina – all maintained their Serie A status but were handed points penalties for the new season.

FIGC said that under its statutes member clubs accept to abide by sports authorities' rules, forsaking the right to turn to civil courts which are outside the sports justice system.

It said it had received a letter from world soccer's governing body FIFA on Tuesday, reiterating that clubs appealing to civil courts should be punished for that.

Juve said on Monday they would appeal to the Lazio court after they failed to persuade FIGC to overturn the relegation verdict last week.—Reuters