Head Referee Involved in Alleged Sports Fraud Probe

Head Referee Involved in Alleged Sports Fraud Probe

Another burgeoning scandal has started rocking Serie A, as chief referee designator Gianluca Rocchi and VAR supervisor Marco Gervasoni are under investigation for conspiracy to commit sports fraud for separate incidents. Both temporarily left their positions, Corriere della Sera relays.

The former is under scrutiny for allegedly influencing some reviews by making gestures or tapping the glass window of the room, which is against protocol. The inquiry stems from a report filed by former linesman Domenico Rocca a year ago.

Rocchi is also being accused of strategically hand-picking referees he was aware Inter liked or disliked in select matches, discussing them with unspecified subjects at San Siro. No Nerazzurri exec is part of the probe. President Giuseppe Marotta repelled any allegation.

The VAR-related incidents in Udinese-Parma and Salernitana-Modena in March of 2025 were already examined by the federal prosecutor. He elected not to open an inquiry due to a lack of evidence at the time. The protocol changed this season. The designator is no longer at the broadcast center in Lissone during matches. Some inspectors monitor that there are no interferences.

Rocchi could be questioned by the Milan DA’s office later this week, but he might elect not to answer or no show. His lawyer pointed out that it’s unusual for co-conspirators not to be named in the notice of investigation. It’ll likely expand to some other referees.

Serie A officials quickly rushed to declare that there are no doubts about the league’s regularity. The head referee was already on his way out. The turn of events could be used by the Italian Olympic Committee to impose a commissioner rather than proceed with the elections following Gabriele Gravina’s resignation.