Refereeing coordinator Gianluca Rocchi is currently under investigation for alleged sporting fraud. The accusations partly stem from claims that referees were selected in a way that ‘favored’ Inter during the 2024-25 season. However, current reports indicate that Inter is not planning to issue any immediate public statement on the matter.
The latest refereeing controversy in Serie A emerged on Saturday with the announcement of Rocchi’s investigation for sporting fraud. Italian media suggests that Rocchi allegedly influenced the selection of referees for Inter matches. For instance, it’s reported that Rocchi sought to remove referee Daniele Doveri from the Bologna vs. Inter Serie A fixture on April 20, 2025, as Doveri was not deemed a favorable official for Inter. Andrea Colombo was assigned to the Bologna vs. Inter match instead, and Doveri was reportedly reassigned to the Inter vs. Milan Coppa Italia semi-final second leg a few days later.
It has been claimed that Rocchi made this decision regarding Doveri’s assignment while attending the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final at San Siro on April 2, allegedly agreeing to remove Doveri from matches deemed ‘most important’ to Inter.
Further allegations against Rocchi include claims that he influenced a VAR decision during a Serie A match between Udinese and Parma on March 1, 2025. It’s alleged that Rocchi banged on the VAR booth window, urging Daniele Parerna to recommend an on-field review for a penalty.
How Inter Reacted to Rocchi’s Fraud Allegations
According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter has expressed perplexity regarding the allegations against Rocchi.
Senior management at Inter convened on Saturday to discuss the allegations and their potential impact on the team. However, reports on Sunday indicate that the club decided against releasing an official statement. Inter’s directors are also not expected to address the media on Sunday, as they believe it’s not the ‘right time’ to discuss the issue without a complete understanding of the facts.
Internally, Inter is reportedly ‘appalled’ by the unfolding scandal. Despite this, the club aims to maintain a calm demeanor and keep players focused on their pursuit of the 2025-26 Scudetto.
The club is also said to be displeased with the resurfacing of Alessandro Bastoni’s name in connection with the scandal. Specifically, an incident involving Bastoni’s elbow on Hellas Verona’s Ondrej Duda during a match on January 6, 2024, has been brought back into the spotlight.
Inter also reportedly harbors ‘doubts’ about the accusations against Rocchi, particularly the claim that he decided to remove Doveri from the team’s matches while present at the Stadio Meazza on April 2, 2025. The club’s perspective is that a crowded stadium on a matchday would not be an ideal setting for a ‘top secret’ meeting.
La Gazzetta dello Sport further reports that Inter intends to highlight the inconsistency in the allegations, suggesting that if Doveri were to be removed from Inter’s most crucial matches, it would be illogical to then assign him to the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg later in the 2024-25 campaign.
Moreover, the alleged decision to remove Doveri from Inter’s Serie A match against Bologna did not ultimately benefit Inter, as they lost the game 1-0 with a different referee officiating.
