The investigation into the Italian refereeing system, dubbed 'Arbitropoli,' is entering a critical phase as Inter Milan's club referee manager, Giorgio Schenone, prepares to face questioning by Milan's public prosecutor. Schenone, who is not under investigation himself, will be heard as a person informed of the facts, marking a significant step in an inquiry that threatens to shake the foundations of Serie A.
The core of the investigation revolves around alleged improper influence over referee assignments. Prosecutors are examining intercepted communications between Gianluca Rocchi, the former head of the referee designators (CAN), and fellow referee Andrea Gervasoni. Both have been indicted for complicity in sporting fraud and have suspended themselves from their roles. In these intercepted conversations, they reportedly refer to a 'Giorgio' and discuss how 'they' no longer wanted a certain referee, identified by investigators as Daniele Doveri.
A key point of scrutiny is a presumed meeting between Schenone and Rocchi on April 2, 2025. This date coincides with the Coppa Italia semifinal first leg between Milan and Inter. The complication for investigators is that Schenone was present on Inter's bench during the match, making a clandestine meeting more difficult, though not impossible. The nature and content of any conversation between the two are central to determining whether Schenone's words had any effect on Rocchi's subsequent referee designations.
Prosecutors allege that specific match assignments were 'combined.' They point to two fixtures from the previous season: Bologna-Inter and the Coppa Italia semifinal second leg, Inter-Milan. For the first match, Andrea Colombo was chosen, a referee allegedly 'welcome' to Inter. For the crucial return leg, the 'unwelcome' Daniele Doveri was designated. The prosecution's theory is that this was a deliberate tactic to mask the fact that it would be Doveri's final assignment of the season involving Inter.
Adding a layer of complexity, the on-field outcomes did not necessarily favor Inter. Colombo made a significant refereeing error that disadvantaged Inter in the Bologna match, while Doveri, who was also assigned to Parma-Inter the day after the alleged meeting with Schenone, has been the referee for Inter more times than any other in the last two seasons. As the source article notes, echoing lessons from the Calciopoli scandal, a direct correlation between accusations and match results is not always required to establish wrongdoing.
The investigation is not limited to Schenone. Prosecutor Maurizio Ascione plans to hear from Antonio Zappi, the president of the Italian Referees' Association (AIA), who is set to be formally removed from his position by the federal council. Zappi was previously banned for 13 months across three levels of sporting justice for undue pressure on lower-league designators. Also scheduled to testify is Dino Tommasi, a member of the CAN who replaced Rocchi after his suspension.
Further testimony will be sought from Riccardo Pinzani, the referee liaison for Lazio and a former FIGC contact for Serie A and B clubs, and Andrea Butti, the Head of Competition for Serie A. Their insights are expected to shed light on the management of the VAR center in Lissone and the internal dynamics of the refereeing world.
Meanwhile, a separate but related thread involves prosecutor Giuseppe Chiné, who originally received the complaint from former assistant referee Domenico Rocca that helped trigger the investigation. Chiné is now awaiting the conclusion of the current inquiry to receive the sealed case files. He will then evaluate whether to reopen his own file, which includes a third alleged crime against Rocchi concerning a 'knock' in the VAR room during a Udinese-Parma match.
The overarching question is whether this investigation will reveal a new, systemic scandal akin to Calciopoli, an internal settling of scores within the refereeing establishment, or an incomplete case. The testimony of figures like Schenone, who has a history as an assistant referee working alongside Rocchi, will be crucial in drawing the line between professional dialogue and improper influence.
For Inter Milan, the club finds itself at the center of a judicial storm, though its employee is not a suspect. The outcome could have profound implications for the perception of fairness in Italian football and the integrity of the league's officiating structures. The coming weeks, as more officials are heard and evidence is examined, will determine the true scope and severity of 'Arbitropoli.'
Based on reporting from Tuttosport.com - Calcio.
