Gianluca Rocchi, the head of referees for Serie A and Serie B, is under investigation by the Milan Prosecutor's Office for alleged complicity in sports fraud. According to Italian reports, Rocchi received formal notification of the investigation in recent days and has subsequently chosen to suspend himself from his role. The probe focuses on specific incidents identified during the ongoing 2024/25 season.
Rocchi's lawyer, Antonio D’Avirro, confirmed the situation in televised comments, stating his client suspended himself "for reasons of seriousness and opportunity" to avoid prejudicing others involved. D’Avirro emphasized that Rocchi has not yet seen the details of the case. "I am not able to say much because I do not know the documents, so we are moving on hypotheses at the moment," he said during an appearance on Stile TV. The lawyer added that the full content of the allegations will only become clear on Thursday.
The investigation reportedly centers on the serious charge of sports fraud, rather than mere breaches of sporting regulations. D’Avirro referenced an unclear incident involving a VAR decision, suggesting the core allegation is that an action corrected an error and did not alter a match result. He also stated the notice of investigation mentions "complicity with persons," but those persons are not named, leaving Rocchi unable to provide further details.
In a formal note, D’Avirro announced that Rocchi will not appear for a scheduled interrogation on April 30. The lawyer stated he made the decision to forgo the hearing because, without access to the investigation file, he would not be able to effectively carry out his defensive mandate. This applies only to the ordinary justice system; Rocchi would be obligated to respond if summoned by the Italian Football Federation's (FIGC) sporting prosecutor, Giuseppe Chiné, as federal rules require cooperation.
The development sends shockwaves through Italian football's refereeing establishment. Rocchi, a former top-flight referee himself, was appointed to the influential designator role in 2023, tasked with assigning officials for Italy's top two divisions. His self-suspension creates immediate uncertainty over the management of refereeing affairs during the final stretch of the season. Separately, the Collegio di Garanzia dello Sport, Italy's highest sports justice body, rejected an appeal from former official Antonio Zappi, confirming a 13-month ban for inducing two other officials to resign, a case that underscores the ongoing scrutiny within the system.
The FIGC's sporting prosecutor now has between 60 and 120 days to decide whether to formally charge Rocchi before the sporting justice system or to archive the case. The situation marks the beginning of a potentially protracted legal process that threatens to cast a long shadow over the integrity of Serie A officiating.
