The investigation into the inner workings of Italian football's refereeing system has entered a critical new phase. Milan's public prosecutor, Maurizio Ascione, is now moving beyond questioning referees and is focusing on the relationships between the designator and the clubs he serves. This shift aims to decipher a system that many describe as opaque, probing whether the selection of match officials was improperly influenced by external pressures.
The probe, which began over a year ago, initially centered on five individuals within the refereeing world, all investigated for sports fraud but not as co-conspirators. The most prominent figure is Gianluca Rocchi, the self-suspended designator of officials. The allegations against him include an incident where he allegedly tapped on the VAR room window during a Udinese-Parma match last season, and claims he made favorable assignments for Inter Milan in two specific games: a league match against Bologna and a Coppa Italia clash against Milan.
His deputy, Andrea Gervasoni, is also under scrutiny, though for a different match: Salernitana-Modena from the previous Serie B season. While Gervasoni recently appeared for questioning and provided explanations about his schedule, Rocchi notably did not attend his scheduled interrogation. This has not slowed the prosecution's momentum.
The investigation's second phase kicked off with the questioning of two key figures who operate at the intersection of referees and clubs. Riccardo Pinzani, a former referee who previously served as the FIGC's liaison between the Referees' Association (AIA) and Serie A/B clubs, was interviewed for three hours. Now the club referee manager for Lazio, his regular contact with Rocchi was expected, but prosecutors sought details on the nature and frequency of those communications.
Similarly, Andrea Butti, the Head of Competition for the Serie A League—the official responsible for fixture scheduling—was also questioned as a person with knowledge of the facts. His role necessitates constant communication with the designator, making his perspective vital to understanding the procedural framework within which these alleged irregularities occurred.
The investigation is set to widen further in the coming days. Prosecutors plan to interview other Serie A representatives and, crucially, other club referee managers. Among them is Giorgio Schenone, the Inter Milan club referee manager. According to the prosecution, Rocchi referenced Schenone in what is described as the "mother" interception of the case—the only one currently known, as a judge later blocked further wiretaps. This interception, dated April 2, 2025, allegedly captured Rocchi venting to Gervasoni about a club's dissatisfaction with a particular referee assignment.
The fact that Schenone, a former assistant referee who officiated alongside Rocchi, would be in contact is not surprising. The core of the investigation, however, lies in determining the content and intent of these conversations. Prosecutors are working to establish whether the designator's choices were systematically catering to the preferences of one or more clubs, a scenario that would constitute a serious breach of sporting integrity. For now, these remain hypotheses without definitive proof, and the prosecutor's goal is to bring clarity through these upcoming auditions.
While this judicial process unfolds, the Italian Referees' Association (AIA) faces its own institutional crisis. A federal council meeting is scheduled for May 13 to formally ratify the disqualification of AIA President Antonio Zappi, following a 13-month ban upheld through three levels of sports justice. This triggers a mandatory electoral process that must conclude within 135 days.
The current leadership appears inclined to use the full allotted time, which would push the appointment of new officials past July and into a period of uncertainty. This has fueled expectations that the FIGC will appoint a commissioner to oversee the AIA. However, finding a suitable candidate is proving difficult. Nicola Rizzoli, once considered a frontrunner, is currently engaged with CONCACAF and may be reluctant to take on such a politically charged role. The search for a credible administrator continues, with a federal solution not being ruled out.
Based on reporting from Tuttosport.com - Calcio.