Italian Referee Selector Gianluca Rocchi Suspends Himself Amid Fraud Investigation
Former international referee under investigation for alleged sporting fraud; Andrea Gervasoni also suspended
Quick Look
- Gianluca Rocchi, Italy's top referee selector for Serie A and Serie B, has self-suspended following a Milan Public Prosecutor's Office investigation into alleged sporting fraud during the 2024-25 season.
- The 52-year-old former international referee, facing a preliminary hearing Thursday, denies wrongdoing and claims he'll emerge stronger.
- Andrea Gervasoni, VAR supervisor for Italy's top two divisions, has also suspended himself.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Gianluca Rocchi is a former international referee who has been the National Referees Commission's designator for Serie A and Serie B, responsible for assigning referees to matches. Sporting fraud is a criminal offence in Italy carrying a maximum six-year prison sentence.
Gianluca Rocchi, the man in charge of assigning referees in Italy's top flight, has suspended himself following a reported investigation into alleged sporting fraud. According to Italian news agency AGI, the former international referee is under investigation for "complicity in sporting fraud" during the 2024-25 season and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday.
The Italian Referees Association (AIA) has released a statement confirming Rocchi's suspension following the launch of the investigation by the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office. The body said Andrea Gervasoni, the video assistant referee supervisor for Italy's two top divisions, has also suspended himself, having been placed under investigation.
Rocchi, the National Referees Commission's referee designator for Serie A and Serie B, said in the AIA statement: "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."
It is alleged that Rocchi was behind the selection of a referee for an Inter Milan game as he was "liked by Inter". A video assistant referee decision not to intervene when an Inter player elbowed an opponent in another game is also under scrutiny.
Rocchi is also accused of pressuring a VAR official to encourage a referee to check on the pitchside monitor for a handball offence during Udinese's 1-0 win over Parma in March last year, according to AGI. The referee and VAR official had already decided not to award a penalty but changed their minds, it is claimed, leading to Florian Thauvin scoring the only goal of the game.
Sporting fraud is a criminal offence in Italy and carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Rocchi will likely face formal charges following the preliminary hearing
Likely · Within days
Italian Football Federation will implement reforms to referee selection transparency
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific evidence led to the investigation?
- Were any match results directly affected by the alleged favoritism?
- Will other referees or officials be implicated?
