Rocchi’s lawyer points out flaw in investigation into latest refereeing scandal | OneFootball

The lawyer representing Gianluca Rocchi, who is under investigation for sporting fraud, has pointed to a potential flaw in the proceedings taken against the refereeing designator: ‘I’ve never seen an indictment that doesn’t specify who the other subject is’.

What Rocchi’s lawyer says about sporting fraud allegations

Referee designator Rocchi is under investigation by the public prosecutor’s office in Milan for alleged sporting fraud, a serious charge that was not even brought up during the infamous Calciopoli scandal.

He is said to have influenced VAR protocols during a Serie A match between Udinese and Parma on March 1, 2025 by banging on the window of the VAR booth and recommending that the officials call for an on-field review for a penalty. There have also been claims that Rocchi sought to remove referee Daniele Doveri from certain Inter matches towards the end of the 2024-25 campaign, as Doveri was not considered a ‘favourable’ referee for the Nerazzurri.

Rocchi has since stepped down from his position as referee designator pending the results of the ongoing investigation by the prosecutor’s office in Milan.

The referee designator will be heard by the Milan prosecutor’s office on April 30. Representing him is lawyer Antonio D’Avirro, who believes that there is a fundamental flaw with the investigation involving his client.

AIA chief Gianluca Rocchi (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

D’Avirro claims that the investigation focuses on an ‘agreement’ between multiple parties, but that Rocchi is the only individual currently being investigated, which he argues cannot be the case.

“These are disputes I can’t understand, because the concurrence of several people was reported, but these other people have not been identified. I have never seen that the other subject of an alleged agreement is not brought forward in cases of sporting fraud,” said Rocchi’s lawyer.

“We’re evaluating. We don’t know who these other people are, it’s not been indicated.”

There have also been suggestions that Rocchi made arrangements regarding the removal of specific referees from certain Inter matches while he was at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza last season, which his lawyer outright denies.

“Rocchi visited all the stadiums and whatever the case, the prosecutor’s office must indicate who these other people are. I have done a lot of trials involving sporting fraud but I have never seen an indictment that doesn’t specify who the other subject is.”