Gianluca Rocchi, the official in charge of appointing referees in Italy’s top divisions, has suspended himself following an investigation into alleged sporting fraud linked to Italian football.
Rocchi, who oversees refereeing assignments in Serie A and Serie B, is reportedly under investigation for “complicity in sporting fraud” during the 2024–25 season. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
The Italian Referees Association confirmed that Rocchi has stepped aside voluntarily, alongside Andrea Gervasoni, the video assistant referee supervisor for the country’s top two divisions, who is also under investigation.
In a statement released through the AIA on Sunday, Rocchi said the decision was made to protect the integrity of the refereeing system while legal proceedings continue.
“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,” he said.
He added that his priority was shielding the refereeing body from disruption.
“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, which I do not want to be affected in any way by my circumstances,” Rocchi said. “I await further developments, which I hope will arrive soon to clarify my position.”
According to Italian news agency AGI, Rocchi is being investigated over alleged influence in referee selection and VAR-related decisions. One allegation claims he influenced the appointment of a referee for a match involving Inter Milan because the official was reportedly favoured by the club.
Other claims include scrutiny of a VAR decision in which officials allegedly failed to intervene after an Inter player committed a potential foul, as well as pressure on VAR staff during Udinese’s 1-0 win over Parma in March 2024.
That incident reportedly led to a late on-field review and penalty decision after initial hesitation from match officials, with Florian Thauvin scoring the only goal of the game.
Under Italian law, sporting fraud is a criminal offence and carries a potential prison sentence of up to six years if proven.
The investigation remains ongoing, with further developments expected following the upcoming hearing.
Leave a comment