Gianluca Rocchi, the head of Serie A and Serie B’s refereeing corps, is currently embroiled in a significant scandal after being placed under formal investigation for suspected involvement in sports fraud. Rocchi has announced his temporary suspension from his duties.
The Milan prosecutor’s office informed Rocchi of the investigation on the morning of April 25, with an interview scheduled for April 30. He has swiftly proclaimed his innocence and expressed his readiness to defend himself in court.
The investigation is focusing on various incidents, including alleged interference in referee appointments. This includes an attempt to assign Andrea Colombo to the Bologna vs. Inter match and possibly removing Daniele Doveri from crucial matches involving Inter. Investigators are also looking into an incident during the Udinese vs. Parma match, where Rocchi may have exerted pressure on VAR officials to award a penalty.
Rocchi’s lawyer, Antonio D’Avierro, asserted that his client categorically denies all allegations but acknowledged that a definitive assessment can only be made after a thorough review of the case materials. The unfolding scandal has already raised significant concerns within Italian football, with potential implications reminiscent of the infamous Calciopoli case.