Agnelli warning as Juve docked points: Do top continental clubs have to cheat to compete with the Premier League?

Juventus has been docked 15 points by Serie A for financial and transfer mishaps

Juventus faces Atalanta at 2:45 pm ET today on CBS Sports Network in the United States - this match should be a critical one for both clubs in the race for UEFA Champions League football, but now really only matters to Atalanta, as Juventus has been docked 15 points in Serie A due to serious financial improprieties.

Andrea Agnelli, the scion of the family that brought Fiat and Juventus to the forefront of global culture stepped down as Chairman of the club, in advance of the sanctions which included a personal 24-month ban from Italian football for him.

I am not going to debate the merits of the ban or punishment as I believe Juventus firmly deserved what they got- however as discussion continues about the need for a European Super League with continental clubs to counter the Premier League, Agnelli had some choice quotes which caught my attention.

"I believed and still believe that European soccer needs structural reforms to tackle the future," he said.

"Otherwise we are heading for inexorable decline for soccer in favour of a dominant league, the Premier League, which over a few years will attract all the European talent and marginalise the others”.