Italy is currently embroiled in a significant refereeing scandal involving head referee Gianluca Rocchi, who is under investigation for charges of sporting fraud. Investigators are exploring possible manipulation of referee appointments and VAR decisions that may have been orchestrated to benefit specific clubs.
According to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, the probe focuses on incidents occurring during the 2024/25 season, particularly concerning referee selections for matches involving Inter. Authorities are examining whether Rocchi attempted to influence the appointment of Andrea Colombo for the Bologna vs Inter match scheduled for April 20, 2025, amidst dissatisfaction expressed by the Milan club over another referee, Daniele Doveri.
Details also reveal that Rocchi, along with other officiating personnel, allegedly engaged in discussions to deliberately exclude Doveri from officiating high-stakes Inter matches. Another situation being investigated pertains to the Serie A game between Udinese and Parma, played on March 1, 2025, where Rocchi reportedly pressured VAR officials to reassess a potential penalty incident, resulting in a penalty being awarded after review.
Additionally, concerns about VAR operations and disciplinary decisions have arisen from the Inter vs Verona match, which is also under scrutiny. As the investigation proceeds, its findings could lead to substantial changes in Italian refereeing and the overall system of referee appointments in Serie A.