Andrea Colombo has been appointed as the referee for the Lecce vs Juventus match. His selection comes amid a refereeing scandal that recently affected Italian football.
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Inter Milanās āfavouriteā referee appointed for Lecce vs Juventus
The AIA have decided to entrust Andrea Colombo with the Serie A contest between Lecce and Juventus on Saturday.
The 35-year-old was one of the names that surfaced in the refereeing scandal that rocked Italian football last week.
Serie A referee designator Gianluca Rocchi, who is the poster child of the investigation, was forced to suspend himself as he deals with charges of sporting fraud.
The controversial figure is suspected of establishing illegal contacts with certain clubs, including Inter, and making refereeing appointments based on their preferences.
As Tuttosport reports, Colombo emerged as one of the profiles āwelcomedā by the Nerazzurri. Rocchi put him in charge of Interās clash against Bologna at the Renato DallāAra in April 2025. Although Simone Inzaghiās men ended up losing the game, the appointment itself remains under investigation.
The Turin-based newspaper also recalls another unsavoury incident involving Colombo in the earlier years of his career.
The Como native was in charge of a Primavera game between Chievo Verona and Milan, and he allegedly insulted several Rossoneri players, including Daniel Maldini, telling him heās an even worse player than his brother (the now-retired Christian).
Andrea Colombo is a Serie A referee appointed for the Lecce vs Juventus match, noted for being Inter Milan's 'favourite' referee amid a recent refereeing scandal.
Gianluca Rocchi, the Serie A referee designator, suspended himself due to charges of sporting fraud linked to a refereeing scandal in Italian football.
The Lecce vs Juventus match is scheduled for Saturday.
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The refereeās shocking behaviour infuriated the legendary Paolo Maldini, who was on the sidelines, sparking a heated argument between the two men.
Interestingly, Juventus have also had an unpleasant episode involving Colombo earlier this season, when he didnāt spot Mario Gilaās foul on Francisco Conceicao inside the box, even though the Lazio defenderās nervous facial expression suggested the penalty should have been awarded. The capital side went on to win 1-0.
The 35-year-old was also in charge when Sassuolo beat Juventus 4-2 at the Mapei Stadium in September 2023. The outcome would have changed had the match official shownd Domenico Berardi a deserved red card for his nasty challenge on Gleison Bremer.