Reports in Italy claim that Serie A and Serie B referee designator Gianluca Rocchi is under investigation for ‘participation in sports fraud’ on suspicion of having influenced VAR’s decisions.
Italian sources claim that referee designator Rocchi is under investigation for participation in sports fraud. Press agency AGI first reported the news, and other media outlets, including Gazzetta dello Sport later confirmed it.
The whole matter began in May 2025 through a complaint letter sent to the Italian Referees Association (AIA) by former referee assistant Domenico Rocca, 42.
The sports justice department archived the complaint, but now the issue has potential criminal relevance.
Rocchi reportedly received notice of an investigation on Friday, April 24, for alleged participation in sports fraud.
The investigation led by Milan Prosecutor Maurizio Ascione addresses incidents that took place primarily during the 2024-25 season.
One of the incidents occurred during the Serie A match between Udinese and Parma on March 1, 2025. During the game, the three VAR officials in Lissone discussed a potential handball inside Parma’s box.
Initially, VAR official Daniele Paterna appeared inclined to rule out the penalty, saying: ‘Look at the position of the arm, it seems on the body.’
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Referee Gianluca Rocchi during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Chelsea FC and AFC Ajax at Stamford Bridge on November 05, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
At some point, however, Paterna looked back and appeared to be talking to somebody behind him. After just a few seconds, his lip-reading reportedly showed him saying: ‘It’s a penalty.’ Udinese were ultimately awarded a penalty, which they converted for a 1-0 victory.
The investigators hypothesise that Rocchi stood up from his position and repeatedly knocked on the VAR officials’ glass door to get their attention so they would call the referee on the pitch for a pitchside review.
According to reports, the Milan Prosecutor’s office is also examining other similar incidents, including one involving Alessandro Bastoni in Inter-Verona during the 2023-24 season, when the Italian defender elbowed Ondrej Duda in the build-up to an Inter goal.
Luigi Nasca, the VAR official of that game, was downgraded and sent to Serie B a few days later, as he should have spotted Bastoni’s foul.