Former Serie referee chief cleared as VAR fraud case falls

On Wednesday, Milan prosecutors dismissed the sports fraud case against Gianluca Rocchi, the former head of referees for Serie A and Serie B, and his deputy Andrea Gervasoni, concluding that the April‑launched investigation into alleged VAR influence and referee appointment manipulation found no evidence of a structured scheme. The dismissal follows an investigation that began in April, targeting alleged interference with VAR decisions and the manipulation of referee appointments across Serie A and Serie B. Prosecutors examined whether a coordinated system existed to influence match outcomes. The Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on Wednesday that it found no evidence of a structured system aimed at interfering with appointments, leading to the case being dropped. The statement emphasized that the evidence did not meet the threshold for sporting fraud. Consequently, both Gianluca Rocchi and Andrea Gervasoni were cleared of all charges. Rocchi had been accused of altering the referee for an Inter Milan match during the 2024‑25 season to favour the club. Inter, who finished a point behind Serie A champions Napoli that season, were not implicated in the allegations.

Inter cleared as Rocchi referee probe dismissed by Milan prosecutor

Further allegations centred on a Serie A fixture between Udinese and Parma on 1 March 2025, where Rocchi was said to have banged on the VAR booth window and recommended an on‑field review for a penalty. Documents relating to that incident have been forwarded to the Monza Public Prosecutor’s Office, as the VAR operations room falls under its jurisdiction. Rocchi stepped down from his role during the investigation, with Dino Tommasi and later Daniele Orsato assuming the head of referees position. His deputy, Andrea Gervasoni, remained in the deputy role until the case was closed. Rocchi’s lawyer Antonio D’Avirro said his client is very pleased with the outcome and that they will consider next steps. "Fortunately, the situation was resolved quickly, even though the price Rocchi had to pay was steep," D’Avirro added, arguing that the alleged actions were intended to correct a referee error, not to alter a match result. Inter won the Serie A title last year, finishing nine points clear of Napoli, but were eliminated in the Champions League play‑off round by Bodø/Glimt. The 2026‑27 Serie A season is set to start on 23 August, with Inter aiming to defend the crown while rivals Napoli and AC Milan have appointed new managers.