Italian reports indicate that VAR officials were purportedly swayed by external figures, including the referees’ chief Gianluca Rocchi. It is alleged that ‘coded messages’ were used to guide their decisions on whether to alert the on-field referee during contentious situations.
Rocchi, who oversees Serie A and Serie B officials, is currently under investigation for suspected involvement in sports fraud and has consequently suspended himself from his duties.
Serie A Referee Scandal: Latest Developments
The former international referee is scheduled to be interviewed by the Milan Prosecutor on April 30. The FIGC Prosecutor, however, has stated that it has not requested documents from authorities pertaining to the ongoing criminal investigation.
Rocchi is suspected of influencing VAR decisions, with a video purportedly showing this influence. On March 1, 2025, during a Serie A match between Udinese and Parma, VAR official Daniele Paterna was reviewing a potential penalty. Initially hesitant to instruct the on-field referee to consult the pitchside monitor, Paterna was observed turning to someone outside the VAR room. He then questioned, ‘Is that a penalty?’ before directing the referee to review the incident.
According to Repubblica, investigators believe VAR officials were aware of a system of coded messages used to assess controversial incidents and decide whether to prompt the on-field referee for a review. A raised hand was reportedly interpreted as a signal ‘do not intervene,’ while a clenched fist indicated ‘send the referee to monitor.’
“Whether these are mere exaggerations or smear tactics stemming from internal disputes within the refereeing community, or actual evidence supporting the allegations, will be determined once the prosecutors release their findings,” stated Repubblica.
VAR supervisor Andrea Gervasoni is also under investigation and is expected to be interviewed on the same date as Rocchi, April 30.
Additionally, Rocchi faces accusations of appointing referees favorable to Inter during the 2024-25 campaign, though no concrete evidence has yet emerged to support this claim. Inter President Marotta has affirmed the club’s non-involvement in the scandal, and no representatives from Inter are currently under investigation.
