Rocchi suspended amid investigation. Serie A referees chief suspected of sports fraud
The head of Serie A and Serie B’s refereeing corps, Gianluca Rocchi, has found himself at the center of a major scandal. The Italian official is now formally under investigation on suspicion of involvement in sports fraud and has already announced his temporary suspension from his post.
According to the Milan prosecutor’s office, Rocchi was handed notification of the investigation on the morning of April 25. His interview with investigators is scheduled for April 30. The official responded swiftly, declaring his complete innocence and readiness to defend his position in court.
The investigation is examining several episodes at once. Among them is alleged interference in referee appointments, including an attempt to assign Andrea Colombo to the Bologna vs Inter match, as well as the possible removal of Daniele Doveri from key Nerazzurri fixtures. Special attention is focused on an incident during the Udinese vs Parma match, where investigators believe Rocchi may have pressured VAR officials to award a penalty.
Rocchi’s lawyer, Antonio D’Avierro, stated that his client categorically denies all accusations, but emphasized that a final assessment can only be made after reviewing the case materials.
The scandal has already caused a major stir in Italian football. Should the allegations be confirmed, this case could become one of the most sensational in the country’s refereeing history since the days of Calciopoli.
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
