A new refereeing scandal broke out in Italy on Saturday when it was reported that Rocchi had been placed under investigation after former assistant referee Domenico Rocca filed a complaint in May 2025. The complaint was originally filed but the issue has now been unearthed with concerns it has criminal relevance.
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Rocchi was reportedly notified of an investigation on Friday (April 24) for his alleged involvement in sports fraud. Rocchi has confirmed that he will leave his position pending the results of the investigation.
Reports in Italy claim that Rocchi interfered with VAR protocols during a Serie A match between Udinese and Parma on March 1, 2025, knocking on the VAR booth window and recommending that referees request an on-field review to impose a penalty. There have also been suggestions that Rocchi assigned referee Andrea Colombo for the Bologna vs. Inter on April 20, 2025 in place of Daniele Doveri, who was originally supposed to take charge of the match.
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 8: Referee Daniele Doveri shows the yellow card to Alessandro Bastoni of Inter during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 8, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
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Investigators are also said to be examining an incident involving Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni, who got away with elbowing Ondrej Duda in the build-up to a Nerazzurri goal in their victory over Hellas Verona during the title-winning 2023-24 season.
What FIGC Prosecutor Chine says about the ongoing investigation into Rocchi
Since then, FIGC prosecutor Chine, who rarely speaks in public, decided to issue a statement clarifying some issues regarding Rocchi and the ongoing investigations. He claims that some of the incidents that have appeared in the Italian press are “lies.”
Chine admitted his office carried out an investigation into allegations that Rocchi influenced a decision in the VAR booth in the match between Udinese and Parma last season, but says this was the only complaint made and the matter was later closed. He did not specifically mention Inter, but confirmed that he will start or reopen an investigation if new information comes to light.
FLORENCE, ITALY – MAY 23: Gianluca Rocchi former Italian referee and designated referee for the Serie A and Serie B championships during the FIGC Hall of Fame event on May 23, 2022 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
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“Given that in recent hours some media outlets have spread false news, without respecting the true version of the events, I would like to confirm that on May 21, 2025, I received only the complaint signed by the assistant referee Domenico Rossa regarding the alleged intervention in the VAR cabin by the designator Rocchi during the Udinese-Parma match,” reads a statement from China (via La Gazzetta dello Sport).
“As a result of this complaint, in full compliance with the sports justice code, a sports investigation was immediately opened, listening to all those involved and all those with possible knowledge of the facts reported by the accuser.
“As a result of these investigative acts and the testimonies of those present, no disciplinary conduct has been initiated against any member of the AIA (Italian association of referees). As expressed in the current sports justice code, the prosecutor’s office proposed to the CONI general sports prosecutor’s office that the disciplinary procedure be dismissed in July 2025.
ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 15: CONI President Giovanni Malago attends the Italian Olympic Committee’s ‘Collari d’Oro’ awards ceremony on December 15, 2015 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
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“Given the investigation carried out and given the content of the statements of the audited subjects, this proposal was agreed to by the General Prosecutor’s Office for Sports.
“With regard to any new fact that may require sporting disciplinary measures, which are dealt with by the Milan prosecutor’s office, I can confirm that I am already in contact with the investigative bodies in charge of the criminal proceedings and that I have already taken steps, since yesterday, to formally request, where possible, the documents relating to the acts of the criminal investigation and that I will initiate and possibly reopen (an investigation) if there is new and decisive evidence.”