VAR Supervisor Andrea Gervasoni Investigated for Sporting Fraud
Andrea Gervasoni, a VAR supervisor for Italy's refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi, has been placed under investigation for sporting fraud and has voluntarily suspended himself from duty. The investigation, led by the Milan Prosecutor's Office, centres on his alleged conduct during a Serie B match between Salernitana and Modena on 8 March 2025.
According to a legal notice reported by AGI, Gervasoni is accused of having "incited and urged" VAR official Luigi Nasca to instruct on-field referee Antonio Giua to review a decision. The incident in question involved a penalty awarded to Modena. Prosecutors allege Gervasoni acted "in concert with other persons" to fraudulently influence the match's outcome through the VAR system.
The case emerges from a wider probe, often referred to in Italian media as the "Rocchi investigation," examining potential misconduct within the Italian Referees' Association (AIA) under Rocchi's management. Sports Minister Andrea Abodi has previously warned of potential consequences for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) following earlier revelations from this ongoing inquiry.
In response to the criminal investigation, the FIGC's own prosecutor has formally requested the case documents from Milan's magistrates. This step is standard procedure, allowing the federation's internal judicial bodies to conduct a parallel sporting investigation once they receive the necessary evidence from the criminal authorities.
Gervasoni's decision to self-suspend pre-empts any immediate disciplinary action from the FIGC, though he remains under formal scrutiny. His role as a VAR supervisor involved overseeing the implementation and communication of the video review system during matches, a position of significant technical influence introduced to ensure fairness and accuracy.
The specific match under review, Salernitana versus Modena, was a Serie B fixture in the 2024-25 season. The allegation suggests an attempt to manipulate the standard VAR protocol, where supervisors are meant to observe and support, not direct the decision-making process of the on-field referee or the VAR official.
This development represents one of the most serious allegations concerning the integrity of Italy's VAR system since its adoption. It places further pressure on the leadership of the AIA and FIGC President Gabriele Gravina, as they contend with persistent scrutiny over the administration of refereeing. The outcome of the judicial and sporting proceedings could lead to significant reforms in the structure and oversight of VAR operations in Italian football.
