Italian football is in crisis on and off the field, with another refereeing scandal emerging on the heels of the men's team's repeated failure to qualify for the World Cup. Gianluca Rocchi, the head of referees in Serie A and Serie B, has been placed under criminal investigation for alleged sports fraud and will appear in court in Milan on Thursday. Also under investigation is VAR supervisor Andrea Gervasoni. Rocchi is under investigation for incidents during the 2024-25 season. He allegedly interfered with VAR protocols during a Serie A match between Udinese and Parma on March 1, 2025, by banging on the window of the VAR booth and recommending that the officials call for an on-field review of a penalty. Italian media reports that Rocchi's selection of referees is also being examined amid suggestions he changed the official for an Inter Milan match to one who was more favorable towards the Nerazzurri. The Italian federation (FIGC) investigated a complaint against Rocchi for the VAR booth incident last year but dismissed disciplinary proceedings in July. However, the issue has resurfaced with the launch of the criminal investigation. FIGC Prosecutor Giuseppe Chiné said he is in contact with the public prosecutor's office in Milan and will reconsider reopening the FIGC investigation if new evidence emerges.
The whole matter began in May 2025 through a complaint letter sent to the Italian Referees Association (AIA) by former referee assistant referee Domenico Rocca, 42. The sports justice department archived the complaint, but now the issue has potential criminal relevance. Rocchi reportedly received notice of an investigation on Friday, April 24, for alleged participation in sports fraud. The investigation led by Milan Prosecutor Maurizio Ascione addresses incidents that took place primarily during the 2024-25 season. One of the incidents occurred during the Serie A match between Udinese and Parma on March 1, 2025. During the game, the three VAR officials in Lissone discussed a potential handball inside Parma’s penalty area. Initially, VAR official Daniele Paterna appeared inclined to rule out the penalty, saying: ‘Look at the position of the arm, it seems on the body.’ At some point, however, Paterna looked back and appeared to be talking to somebody behind him. After just a few seconds, his lip-reading reportedly showed him saying: ‘It’s a penalty.’ Udinese were ultimately awarded a penalty, which they converted for a 1-0 victory. The investigators hypothesise that Rocchi stood up from his position and repeatedly knocked on the VAR officials’ glass door to get their attention so they would call the referee on the pitch for an on-field review. According to reports, the Milan Prosecutor’s office is also examining other similar incidents, including one involving Alessandro Bastoni in Inter-Verona during the 2023-24 season, when the Italian defender elbowed Ondrej Duda in the build-up to an Inter goal. Luigi Nasca, the VAR official of that game, was downgraded and sent to Serie B a few days later, as he should have spotted Bastoni’s foul.
Rocchi has stepped away from his role while awaiting further developments: "This painful and difficult decision, shared with my family, is intended to allow the judicial process to proceed smoothly, from which I am certain I will emerge unscathed and stronger than before." The 52-year-old added: "My great love for my association and my sense of responsibility for the role I hold lead me, above all, to protect such an important group of athletes, whom I do not want to be affected in any way by my circumstances. I await further developments, which I hope will arrive soon to clarify my position."
