Serie A and B referee designator Gianluca Rocchi is under investigation for "complicity in sports fraud." The news, which was released like a bombshell, was published on the Agi website.

According to the news agency, Rocchi was served with a notice of investigation yesterday. The investigation, conducted by Milanese public prosecutor Maurizio Ascione, concerns the 2024-2025 season.

The alleged crime is the same one that sparked the “Calciopoli” scandal, which culminated in Juventus' relegation to Serie B.

Agi also published a video that has been added to the investigation. It dates back to March 1, 2025: "The match is Udinese-Parma," the agency reports, "the championship is the one Napoli won in a photo finish over Inter. We are in the VAR room in Lissone. The three officials discuss, watch and rewatch an incident involving a "possible handball." "It doesn't seem out of place to me, look at the position of the arm, it looks like it's on the body," says Daniele Paterna, who seems inclined to rule out a penalty. At a certain point, he turns abruptly, looks back, and his lips are clearly moving, asking, "Is it a penalty?" A moment later, he says to Fabio Maresca, the referee on the pitch: "One moment, Fabio, I'm checking the APP (Attacking Possession Phase, i.e., the phase of play monitored by the VAR). 'It's a possible penalty, Fabio, I recommend an on-field review for a possible penalty.' In the end, the penalty is awarded."

Who is Paterna turning toward? According to Agi, "the hypothesis contained in Domenico Rocca's complaint, later dismissed by the sports justice system, is that the referee designator Gianluca Rocchi "quickly rose from his post to repeatedly 'knock' on the glass of Paterna's VAR and Sozza Avar room to get their attention, and that they, in turn, would call the referee for an on-field review." Daniele Paterna was summoned by the prosecutor in recent months as a witness. His testimony was interrupted when, also in light of the video, the magistrate deemed he wasn't telling the truth, and he was informed that his position had been changed to that of a suspect for perjury."

But this is just one of the cases that are at the centre of the protests.

A second questionable incident involved an elbow strike by Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni on Verona player Duda. This contact was deemed not a foul after a thorough discussion between VAR and the referee, which ended with Frattesi's winning goal being upheld. In this case, it's assumed, an on-field review of Bastoni's foul would not have been called.

"This morning I received a notice of investigation. I am certain that I have always acted correctly and I have full confidence in the judiciary," Gianluca Rocchi told ANSA.

(Unioneonline)

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