Gianluca Rocchi, the head of refereeing in Serie A, has strongly asserted his commitment to complete transparency in all his dealings, following accusations of sporting fraud. The situation has sent ripples through the Italian refereeing community, prompting Rocchi to temporarily step down from his role as the chief designator for Serie A and B.
Rocchi was scheduled to meet with investigators but, in consultation with his lawyer, opted not to attend, citing the vagueness of the charges against him as an impediment to preparing a proper defense.
In an interview with the television program “Le Iene,” Rocchi addressed the allegations that his decisions regarding referee assignments may have unfairly benefited certain clubs. He firmly denied any wrongdoing, stating, “We work in only one way, so there are no big problems. I am transparent with everyone on everything.” He reiterated that his professional conduct remains consistent and unwavering.
When questioned about the clarity of the VAR system’s operation, Rocchi maintained his consistent approach: “I have always been clear, so it’s not like I have to promise something that I was already doing.”
Among the accusations leveled against him are claims that he assigned referees favored by Inter Milan over Daniele Doveri for crucial matches late last season, and that he improperly interfered with VAR decisions by physically interacting with the VAR booth.