Former Inter Milan President Massimo Moratti has commented on the ongoing investigation into referees for sporting fraud, stating that the current situation is “ridiculous compared to Calciopoli” and asserting that “Inter have never been helped” by match officials.
Gianluca Rocchi, the refereeing designator, is currently under formal investigation for sporting fraud, a more serious charge than any leveled during the 2006 Calciopoli scandal. Accusations include Rocchi colluding with individuals at San Siro in April 2025 to deliberately avoid assigning Daniele Doveri to Inter matches, opting instead for referees favored by the club.
Four other figures within the refereeing community are also under scrutiny. However, Moratti, who led Inter during the Calciopoli era, maintains the club’s innocence.
Moratti Confident in Inter’s Impartial Treatment by Officials
Speaking to Napoli Network, Moratti commented, “I haven’t followed the matter too closely, but it seems more like a minor dispute among referees than anything involving clubs. I see no comparison with Calciopoli.”
He continued, “I had fear and respect for the referees then, because they could determine the fate of my team, especially considering we had Juventus on the other side. I always saw it as a difficult profession, and therefore I didn’t engage with them.”
Moratti expressed disbelief at the current focus, noting, “I read interviews with De Santis and Luciano Moggi, who were found guilty in Calciopoli, and it’s incredible that people are asking for their opinions on the matter. What is happening now is ridiculous compared to that.”
The Calciopoli scandal involved numerous clubs for their communications and pressure tactics aimed at influencing referee assignments. However, sporting fraud was never among the charges brought forth. While intercepted phone calls with refereeing officials were a key element, some conversations involving former Inter director Giacinto Facchetti only came to light years later, after the statute of limitations had expired.
Moratti, whose Inter side was retrospectively awarded the 2005-06 Scudetto after other leading clubs were penalized, insists on the club’s unwavering innocence, both then and now.
“Looking at the games, I don’t see anything unbalanced. Inter never received help, neither when they won nor when they lost. Refereeing errors can occur, and often they are serious errors, but these things have always happened.”