Rocchi under investigation as Italian Football faces shock allegations

Serie A refereeing chief Gianluca Rocchi at the center of a widening fraud probe

The head of referees for Serie A and Serie B, Gianluca Rocchi, is reportedly under investigation for “conspiracy in sports fraud.” The news was first reported by AGI, which states that a formal notice of investigation was served to him last night.

The case, according to the report, is linked to the 2024–25 season and is being led by Milan prosecutor Maurizio Ascione. 

The inquiry has been ongoing since last summer, unfolding in the aftermath of what has been described as a broader crisis in Italian football. 

It reportedly examines multiple layers of the sport, from referees and the FIGC to clubs and sporting justice bodies.

The prosecution is investigating alleged sports fraud, the same legal framework that once underpinned the infamous “Calciopoli” scandal, which led to the relegation of Juventus FC to Serie B. 

The current investigation suggests that while football has evolved into a modern, media-driven system dominated by broadcast rights and dense calendars, certain behaviors may have remained unchanged, at least according to the investigative hypothesis.

VAR decisions, key matches, and contested episodes under scrutiny

A central element of the investigation involves a recorded video and audio file from March 1, 2025, during the match between Udinese Calcio and Parma Calcio 1913, part of a season eventually won by Napoli.

The footage reportedly comes from the VAR room in Lissone, where officials were reviewing a possible handball incident. 

Discussions between VAR operators show uncertainty over the decision, with lines of dialogue suggesting a penalty was eventually recommended after review. 

According to investigative claims cited by AGI, there are questions over whether external influence may have reached the VAR room through visual contact with individuals outside the control area.

The VAR room is supposed to remain strictly closed, with no external interference allowed. 

However, the investigation explores whether visual communication through glass panels may have played a role in influencing decisions during the match review process.

Following a complaint filed by Domenico Rocca and subsequent reporting within the refereeing system, procedural changes were introduced requiring detailed logs of any visits to the VAR hub in Lissone. From that point onward, access by senior refereeing officials reportedly became more restricted.

Further Matches Under Review: Inter Milan Case

Another episode cited in the investigation concerns the match between Inter Milan and Hellas Verona on January 8, 2024.

The focus is an incident involving a potential elbow by Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni on Verona’s Duda, followed by a decisive goal scored by Davide Frattesi. 

Internal VAR dialogue transcripts reveal a heated exchange between on-field referee Michael Fabbri and VAR official Luigi Nasca, discussing whether the contact warranted a review or intervention.

In the end, the goal was validated after VAR review, but the investigation questions whether all procedural steps were correctly followed, including whether an on-field review should have been recommended.

The broader inquiry reportedly examines several matches from the previous season, aiming to determine whether refereeing decisions were influenced improperly or if all actions remained within regulatory boundaries.

At this stage, the investigation remains ongoing, and no final conclusions have been reached. 

All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise by the competent authorities.

Source: Fcinter1908