Italian football is in a state of shock after the referee designator for Serie A and B was placed under investigation for alleged sporting fraud.
Prosecutors in Milan have advised Gianluca Rocchi to submit himself for questioning next Thursday for an alleged violation of VAR protocol and the selection of referees to Inter’s liking.
Rocchi placed himself under suspension with immediate effect, as did his colleague Andrea Gervasoni.
Five games have come under scrutiny from the last two seasons in Italian football. Inter-Verona (January 6, 2024), Udinese-Parma (March 1, 2025) Salernitana-Modena (March 8, 2025), Bologna-Inter (April 20, 2025) and Inter-Milan (April 23, 2025).
No one from the clubs involved is under investigation.
In a statement, Rocchi said: “With regard to today’s events, in agreement with the Italian Referees’ Association (AIA) and for the good of the National Referees’ Committee (CAN), which must be able to operate with the utmost peace of mind, I have decided to suspend myself, with immediate effect, from the role of Head of the CAN.
“This choice, though painful and difficult, has been made in consultation with my family and is intended to allow the legal proceedings to run their course properly; I am certain I will emerge from this unscathed and stronger than before.
“My deep love for my Association and my sense of responsibility for the role I hold lead me, first and foremost, to protect such an important group of athletes, whom I do not want to be affected in any way by my personal circumstances, whilst awaiting further developments, which I hope will come as soon as possible to clarify my position.”
