The Milan Prosecutor's Office has confirmed that no Inter Milan officials or players are currently under investigation in the widening probe into alleged sports fraud within Italian football's refereeing sector. According to sources close to the investigation, the list of individuals formally registered as suspects currently includes only five figures, all from the refereeing establishment. This development comes after a week of intense speculation regarding the potential involvement of clubs following the initial reports.
The central figure in the investigation is Gianluca Rocchi, the former head of Italy's referees' association (AIA), who is accused of selecting referees favorable to Inter Milan. The specific matches under scrutiny are the Serie A fixture between Bologna and Inter, officiated by Marco Di Bello, and the Coppa Italia semi-final between Inter and AC Milan, overseen by Daniele Doveri. The prosecutor's theory suggests Doveri, considered unfavorable to Inter, was assigned the cup semi-final to prevent him from overseeing Inter in a potential final or in decisive late-season league matches.
Alongside Rocchi, who has voluntarily suspended himself, the other individuals under investigation for alleged complicity in sports fraud are supervisor Andrea Gervasoni, referee Luigi Nasca, and assistant VAR official Rodolfo Di Vuolo. A fifth official, referee Daniele Paterna, is being investigated for false testimony, suspected of lying to prosecutors about an incident in the VAR room. Both Rocchi and Gervasoni are expected to be questioned by prosecutor Giuseppe Ascione in Milan later this week, though Rocchi may exercise his right to remain silent.
The inquiry, which began approximately 18 months ago in late 2024, has seen prosecutors interview nearly 30 referees, assistants, VAR officials, and other figures connected to the AIA's VAR center in Lissone. Financial police have reportedly gathered expense reports and taken testimony from a taxi driver to map who was present at the center on key match days. The probe was reportedly triggered by a formal complaint filed in January 2024 regarding a missed VAR intervention in an Inter-Verona match, though prosecutors may be acting on separate initial evidence.
For Inter Milan, the clarification that no club officials are implicated provides immediate, if fragile, relief from a scandal that threatened to cast a shadow over their season. The club has not been formally accused of any wrongdoing. The investigation continues to focus on the integrity of the refereeing appointment system itself, with the Italian football world awaiting its conclusion, expected by June or July. The outcome will have significant implications for the governance of Serie A and the public perception of its competitive balance, regardless of the eventual legal findings.
