The investigation into the Italian refereeing system is accelerating, with the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office conducting a series of high-profile interrogations. The probe, which has been ongoing since autumn 2024, is now focusing on the intricate relationships between football clubs, the Italian Referees Association (AIA), and the league's organizational bodies. The central figures questioned on May 6, 2026, were Riccardo Pinzani and Andrea Butti, both of whom hold or have held positions that placed them at the nexus of these relationships.
Riccardo Pinzani, who currently serves as the club referee manager for Lazio, was questioned for over three hours by Public Prosecutor Maurizio Ascione. Until last season, Pinzani held a pivotal role within the AIA, coordinating relationships with clubs and overseeing the training of referee assistants. This position made him a key witness for investigators seeking to understand potential pressures or irregularities in the communication channels between clubs and the refereeing establishment. He was heard as a person informed of the facts, as he is not currently under investigation.
Immediately following Pinzani, Andrea Butti, the head of competitions and operations for Serie A, was also questioned. Butti's career includes a decade-long tenure at Inter Milan, where he served in various capacities from press officer to first-team manager. Since 2019, he has been responsible for defining the league calendar and maintaining relationships with all clubs. His dual perspective—from a top club to the league's operational heart—makes his testimony crucial for prosecutors mapping the flow of information and influence. Like Pinzani, Butti is not among the investigated individuals.
The investigation is currently pursuing two primary lines of inquiry. The first concerns alleged attempts by clubs to influence Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions during matches last season, a practice colloquially referred to as 'knocking on the VAR room door.' The second, and perhaps more systemic, line of inquiry examines whether referee designations were 'piloted' or manipulated to favor certain teams. This suggests a potential breach of the sporting fairness principles that underpin the competition.
Specific incidents under scrutiny include the designation of referee Andrea Colombo for an Inter away match at Bologna and Daniele Doveri for a Coppa Italia semifinal. Prosecutors allege these assignments were influenced by considerations of 'liking' or preference from Inter Milan. These cases are believed to be supported by intercepted communications from approximately April 2025 involving the suspended former designator Gianluca Rocchi, Pinzani, and Butti.
The probe is also examining the relationship between Rocchi and Giorgio Schenone, Inter's current club referee manager and a former collaborator with the club. Schenone's name, specifically 'Giorgio,' appears in intercepted conversations between the investigated individuals Rocchi and Andrea Gervasoni. These discussions allegedly reference pressures related to referee designations for Inter matches. Schenone is expected to be questioned soon and is not currently under investigation.
The investigation has so far resulted in five individuals being charged with sporting fraud. Among them is Gianluca Rocchi, the former designator who voluntarily suspended himself. Rocchi did not attend his scheduled interrogation on April 25, choosing to exercise his right to remain silent. In contrast, another investigated individual, former VAR supervisor Andrea Gervasoni, did respond to the prosecutor's questions, albeit limited to the specific charges against him.
The implications of this investigation are profound for Italian football. It strikes at the heart of the sport's integrity, questioning whether the assignment of match officials—a process that should be entirely merit-based and neutral—has been compromised by external pressures. The involvement of high-ranking league officials like Butti suggests the inquiry is looking beyond individual matches to the potential systemic vulnerabilities within the organizational structure of Serie A itself.
The coming weeks are deemed critical. Prosecutors aim to reconstruct a complete picture of the interactions between referees, clubs, and football institutions. The testimony of other league officials, such as editorial director Lorenzo Dallari, may also be sought. This scandal unfolds even as the sporting calendar continues; notably, the upcoming Lazio-Inter match is overshadowed by these off-field events, though for Inter, the focus remains on their Coppa Italia final and a scheduled audience with Pope Leone XIV.
Based on reporting from Tuttosport.com - Calcio.
