An investigation into Italy's Video Assistant Referee system has uncovered allegations of a "shadow governance" remotely influencing match officials, according to reports from La Repubblica. The probe, centered on the VAR control room in Lissone, is examining a sophisticated system of non-verbal gestures allegedly used to instruct officials on whether or not to intervene in on-field decisions, fundamentally violating established protocols.
The inquiry focuses on a Serie A match between Udinese and Parma in March of last year. According to the evidence cited by prosecutors, the initial intention of VAR official Daniele Paterna was not to award a penalty. Audio and video material reportedly shows Paterna suddenly turning and asking "Is it a penalty?" to a superior figure off-camera, before subsequently instructing referee Fabio Maresca to award a spot-kick to Udinese. This alleged intervention is said to have been directed by VAR supervisor Gianluca Rocchi, who is under investigation for allegedly conspiring to influence Paterna.
The alleged method of communication was a silent, gestural code referred to as "Gioca Jouer." According to the reports, a raised hand signified "do not intervene," while a closed fist meant "intervene." This system would have directly contradicted the core VAR principle that only the officials reviewing the footage should form an opinion on an incident, free from any external pressure. The practice of officials being "called to the monitor" and almost invariably changing their decision has long been a point of contention in Italian football, distinguishing it from other leagues where referees more frequently stick with their original call.
The Milan prosecutor's office has reportedly acquired two years' worth of audio and video from the Italian football federation's control room to deepen the investigation. The scandal first came to light with allegations of officials "knocking" on the glass to communicate with those inside the VAR booth, but the new claims suggest a far more elaborate and organized scheme. Former referee Daniele Minelli, cited as a witness, described the environment as "nauseating," stating that talk of the forbidden "knocks" was widespread within the refereeing community.
Minelli further claimed that since Rocchi and his deputies stopped appearing at the Lissone facility—a change that occurred after the federation mandated the presence of a federal prosecutor in the VAR room—the number of refereeing errors has "multiplied in a devastating way." This statement implies that the alleged remote influence may have been a method of centralized control, and its removal has led to increased inconsistency. The investigation continues to develop, casting a long shadow over the integrity and transparency of officiating in Serie A.
