Serie A Designator Rocchi Shocking Admission On Inter Milan 0-1 Roma Loss: “I Decided Not To Air Full VAR-Referee Audio” | OneFootball

Serie A referee designator Gianluca Rocchi made a shocking admission regarding a VAR audio following incident during Inter Milan’s home game against Roma in April.

Speaking at the end-of-season conference via FCInter1908, Rocchi revealed why he refused to disclose the audio recording on DAZN program Open VAR.

Roma stunned Inter Milan 1-0 at Stadio San Siro toward the end of April as Matias Soule scored a first-half winner.

However, the match brimmed with controversial decisions.

Indeed, Michael Fabbri failed to meet expectations in a match that sealed Inter’s Scudetto fate.

Despite Roma’s early lead, the Nerazzurri didn’t deserve to lose, even though it wasn’t their best performance.

Furthermore, a massive oversight from the VAR booth denied Simone Inzaghi’s side a clear penalty.

Evan N’Dicka wrestled Yann Bisseck down to the ground inside the box, yet Fabbri refused to point to the spot.

Still, VAR had to intervene, but they didn’t, sparking enormous controversy after the game.

Though it’s been two months since the incident, Gianluca Rocchi decided it was time to address this issue.

Gianluca Rocchi Makes Shocking Admission on VAR Incident in Inter Milan vs Roma Clash

EMPOLI, ITALY – OCTOBER 6: Michael Fabbri referee looks on during the Serie A TIM match between Empoli FC and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Carlo Castellani on October 6, 2023 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Rocchi confirmed that the VAR audio that was aired was heavily censored.

“It wasn’t easy to manage the audio we aired on Open VAR because I also had to protect the referees.

“To shield some of them, I chose not to release certain parts of the audio – like in Inter-Roma.

“That incident raised many doubts about the VAR intervention, though not about the penalty itself.

“Still, no referee has ever asked me not to make their voice heard. Honestly, people have already stepped quite far into our world.

“We’re more and more exposed, but please let us go back to refereeing the following Sunday.

“If a striker misses a penalty, he still plays the next weekend.”

That penalty could’ve earned Inter a valuable point, which would take the Scudetto race to a one-off playoff tie.

However, now it’s too late to turn back the clock.