Referee designator Rocchi investigated for fraud: 'Would have favoured Inter'

The head of the General Public Prosecutor's Office for Sport, Ugo Taucer, has just asked Giuseppe Chiné, head of the Federcalcio prosecutor's office that filed the acts transmitted by the Aia on the affair for which Rocchi is now under investigation, for an immediate report. "Since in these last hours some press organs are spreading untrue and even fanciful news, lacking any adherence to the reality of the events, for the exclusive purpose of protecting the punctual and scrupulous work of the FIGC Federal Prosecutor's Office, which I have the honour of leading, I would like to confirm that on 21 May 2025 I received exclusively the complaint signed by the assistant Domenico Rocca, on the alleged external intervention in the Var room of the designator Rocchi, during the Udinese-Parma match," reports a note from prosecutor Chiné.

"Following this complaint, in full compliance with the rules of the Code of Sports Justice, a sports investigation was immediately opened, with the hearing of all those involved and with possible knowledge of the facts narrated by the exponent," he added. "At the outcome of these investigative acts and of the testimonies given by the people present in the Lissone building, no conduct of sporting disciplinary relevance against any AIA member emerged. As provided for by the current Code of Sports Justice, the Federal Prosecutor's Office therefore proposed, in July 2025, to the General Prosecutor's Office for Sport at the CONI to order the archiving of the sports disciplinary proceedings. This proposal, in the light of the acts of investigation carried out, and in particular the content of the statements made by all the persons heard, was shared by the Attorney General's Office for Sport'.

What did Rocca write in his complaint? In a letter addressed to the National Referees' Commission of the Aia, the former referee announced that he would denounce a series of cases to the 'federal authorities, for the violation of the principles of fairness, correctness and transparency in designations and evaluations, as well as to the competent ordinary authorities to assess any civil and criminal profiles'. Exposed then filed by the sports justice, but at the basis of the investigation of the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office. In Rocca's four-page missive, several episodes of alleged irregularities are cited, according to him, over several matches, including that Inter-Roma match of 27 April 2025 with a hold on Bisseck in the box but penalty not given to the Nerazzurri. "Why in Inter v Roma, Gervasoni supervisor of the day does not 'knock' the Var to have a clear penalty kick awarded, a serious error, which will most likely result in the loss of the championship to the club Inter in favour of the club Napoli! But this is just a hint. Since the beginning of the season I could tell you so many stories about referees, assistants and var, and of similar or even worse cases,' the letter says.

The Minister of Sport Andrea Abodi also commented on the subject on X: 'There is only one way to protect the sports system in all its articulations and to respect the fans, enthusiasts and lovers of sport, starting with football: transparency, timeliness and equal treatment when dealing with hypotheses of non-compliance with sports rules, even more so when they have possible criminal implications. And do it always and with anyone! I read, like all of you, the implications that are emerging on the investigation of the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office, which started from the complaint of a former member of the Italian Referees Association. Leaving it to the judicial authorities to do their job and without wishing to enter into the merits of the work of Can Rocchi's designator, the most serious aspect that emerges is the way in which the same complaint was handled within the football system. So far, there has been no public acknowledgement, just as we do not know who received the complaint and which body has been entrusted with the matter to verify its existence. I therefore expect to receive formal information from the Coni, as soon as possible. If liability is established, there cannot but be consequences'.

The issue is increasingly political. 'Italia football has never been in such difficulty, amid scandals and serial sporting failures. While respecting the autonomy of sport and beyond the investigations of the last few hours,a commissioner of the FIGC to start from scratch with full renewal and new figures is increasingly necessary,' reads a note from the Lega.

Meanwhile, there are those who announce mobilisations from below: 'The investigation against referee designator Gianluca Rocchi for conspiracy to commit sports fraud is not surprising. It pains, because we had strongly denounced it and many had preferred to ignore or minimise it,' claims Carlo Claps, president of Aidacon Consumatori. 'We will ask for an immediate intervention to commission the Can and an extraordinary revision of the entire arbitration designation system'. In recent days, the association has announced the 'fans' strike' which, Claps reiterates, 'is not an empty threat but a right'. Still on the consumer front, the Codacons asks the FIGC to 'immediately acquire the acts of the criminal investigation; initiate an autonomous sports proceeding; evaluate, in the case of ascertained responsibility, the revocation of any titles won by Inter in the championships under investigation, including the championships'.