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Former referee Daniele Minelli claims refereeing errors have significantly increased following an investigation into Gianluca Rocchi for suspected sporting fraud. The investigation stems from a complaint made in May 2025 by ex-assistant referee Domenico Rocca.
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Ex-Referee claims āerrors have multiplied at an alarming rateā after Rocchi investigation
Former referee Daniele Minelli has brought further claims and provided more details regarding the latest refereeing scandal, and claims that errors have āmultiplied at an alarming rateā after a complaint about referee designator Gianluca Rocchi was brought forward last year.
Serie A and Serie B referee designator Rocchi is currently under investigation for suspected participation in sporting fraud, a particularly serious charge that wasnāt even brought against referees during the infamous Calciopoli scandal.
The matter began in May 2025 when former assistant referee Domenico Rocca sent a letter of complaint to the Italian refereesā association (AIA) regarding designator Rocchi.
AIA chief Gianluca Rocchi (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
FIGC prosecutor Giuseppe Chine has confirmed that the matter was investigated and later closed last year, but this is now being investigated by the public prosecutorās office in Milan due to potential criminal relevance.
Gianluca Rocchi is under investigation for suspected participation in sporting fraud, a serious charge not seen in previous scandals.
Daniele Minelli is a former referee who stated that errors in officiating have multiplied at an alarming rate following the Rocchi investigation.
The investigation into Gianluca Rocchi began in May 2025 after a complaint was filed by former assistant referee Domenico Rocca.
The current allegations against Rocchi are considered more serious than those from the Calciopoli scandal, which did not involve similar charges against referees.

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The investigation centres around an incident that occurred during the Serie A match between Udinese and Parma on March 1, 2025. During that game, there was a review for a potential penalty, which VAR official Daniele Paterna appeared inclined to rule out, however, footage shows that Paterna looked back, appeared to be talking to somebody behind him, was seen asking āis it a penalty?ā, and this has led to claims that VAR decisions were being influenced by external figures.
Reports in Italy claim that various other incidents have been brought under review, including referee Daniele Doveri being removed from certain Inter matches at the end of the 2024-25 season, as he was not considered a āfavourableā choice for the Nerazzurri.
MILAN, ITALY ā JANUARY 11: Match referee, Daniele Doveri shows Antonio Conte, Head Coach of SSC Napoli, (not pictured) a red card during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Speaking to news agency AGI (via La Gazzetta dello Sport), former ref Minelli, who spent most of his officiating career in Serie B with a handful of outings in the top flight, claims that interference in the VAR room was a well-known thing among officials.
He also says that refs whose errors were corrected by VAR would receive a higher rating, and would therefore be more likely to appear in big matches, while those who didnāt have their mistakes corrected would drop lower down the refereesā ranking, and in some cases, might not even be paid.
āThe knocks (on the glass) of the VAR room? People were talking about it and it was well known that the protocol didnāt allow it,ā Minelli said.
LIVORNO, ITALY ā JULY 31: Daniele Minelli referee during the serie B match between AS Livorno and FC Empoli at Armando Picchi Stadium on July 31, 2020 in Livorno, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images for Lega Serie B)
āIn the case of Udinese vs. Parma, itās clear that if the VAR official gave a (penalty), it would affect their rating and consequently, the internal ranking that determines whether referees stay or go home, and thus, whether they receive their attendance fee or not. There could also be repercussions for the clubs in the league table.ā
Minelli claims that referee designator Rocchi and his assistants affected certain calls in the VAR room, but adds that these incidents have significantly reduced after the complaint was made by Rocca last year, and as a result, mistakes by referees have increased.
āEver since Rocchi and his assistants stopped turning up in Lissone, because the federation required that the federal prosecutor be present in the VAR room after Roccaās complaint, refereeing errors have multiplied at an alarming rate. I donāt know if thatās the reason, but Iāve never seen as many as this year.
āIf mistakes were corrected in some cases but not in others, itās clear that this has skewed the refereesā rankings, because those whose mistakes were corrected received a positive rating, while those who werenāt received a negative one. You only need to watch the footage from the VAR room from recent years: You can hear the suggestions being made.ā