'Juve, sh*t!' - Fiorentina punished by Serie A over offensive tifo displayed prior to 3-0 mauling of crisis club Juventus

The league authorities sanctioned La Viola due to an offensive pre-match tifo that contained expletive language targeting Juventus - 'Juve merda', directly translating to 'Juve, sh*t' - along with abusive chants directed at several Bianconeri players. Moreover, Fiorentina supporters also launched three smoke bombs into the away section, further contributing to the disciplinary action which involves a €50,000 (£42087/$54718) fine.

Among the main targets of Fiorentina’s hostile atmosphere was Dusan Vlahovic, a former Viola striker who left for Juventus in a high-profile transfer in 2022. The home crowd mocked his recent struggles with game time, repeatedly chanting "Where’s Vlahovic?" in reference to his limited starting appearances in Turin. Meanwhile, Nico Gonzalez, who moved from Fiorentina to Juventus last summer, also faced relentless jeering from the home fans.

On the pitch, Juventus endured a humiliating 3-0 defeat at the hands of Fiorentina, further intensifying the pressure on manager Thiago Motta. This was Juventus' second consecutive heavy loss, raising concerns over their form and stability as they battle for a top-four finish in Serie A. Their Champions League hopes were dashed last month following a shock elimination at the hands of PSV Eindhoven, and they also suffered an unexpected Coppa Italia exit against Empoli. Following the weekend’s results, Juventus have now dropped to fifth place in the Serie A table, sitting on 52 points - one behind Bologna, who jumped into fourth with a commanding 5-0 victory over Lazio.

Fiorentina will now shift their focus to their next league match against Atalanta on March 30, where they will aim to build on their impressive performance. Meanwhile, Juventus will look to bounce back as they prepare to host Genoa on March 29, in what has now become a must-win game for Motta’s side.