Milan prosecutors have requested the dismissal of a sports fraud case against Gianluca Rocchi, the man responsible for assigning referees in Italy's top divisions. The two-year investigation found no evidence of match-fixing, with prosecutors stating they did not "identify a structured system aimed at interfering with appointments." Rocchi, who had suspended himself from his role as the National Referees Commission's designator for Serie A and Serie B in April, has always protested his innocence. The simultaneous case against Inter Milan has also been dropped.
Allegations Under the Microscope
The investigation examined several contentious incidents from the 2024-25 season. It was alleged that Rocchi favored Inter Milan by selecting a referee "liked by Inter" and that a VAR decision not to intervene after an Inter player's alleged elbow went unpunished. Another accusation involved Rocchi pressuring a VAR official to prompt an on-field review for a handball during Udinese's 1-0 win over Parma in March 2025. The referee and VAR had initially decided against a penalty but changed their minds, leading to Florian Thauvin scoring the decisive goal from the spot.
According to Italian news agency Ansa, prosecutors concluded after a thorough inquiry that there was no criminal wrongdoing. The case documents have now been forwarded to sports justice authorities and the Italian Olympic Committee's General Prosecutor's Office to assess whether any disciplinary breaches occurred within a sporting context. Rocchi, a former international referee who retired in 2020, had faced a potential six-year prison sentence if convicted of sporting fraud, a criminal offence in Italy.
The dismissal lifts a significant immediate legal threat, but the sporting review could still have consequences. For now, Rocchi and Inter Milan are cleared in the criminal investigation, bringing temporary relief to an Italian football system still scarred by historical scandals.
Source: BBC Sport
