Prosecutors in Milan have formally requested the dismissal of a sports fraud investigation targeting Gianluca Rocchi, the high-profile official responsible for assigning referees in Italy's top football divisions, Serie A and Serie B. Rocchi, a former international referee, had voluntarily stepped aside from his duties in April 2025 after being placed under investigation for alleged 'complicity in sporting fraud' during the 2024-25 season. He has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.
The decision follows a comprehensive two-year inquiry by external prosecutors, who concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support claims of match-fixing. According to Italian news agency Ansa, the investigation did not "identify a structured system aimed at interfering with appointments," effectively clearing Rocchi of the most serious allegations. Concurrently, a separate but related case against football club Inter Milan has also been dropped.
The investigation initially scrutinised several incidents. One allegation claimed Rocchi influenced the selection of a referee for an Inter Milan game because the official was purportedly "liked by Inter." Another point of contention involved a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decision not to intervene after an Inter player reportedly elbowed an opponent in a different match, which also came under intense scrutiny.
Further accusations against Rocchi included claims that he pressured a VAR official to encourage a pitchside monitor review for a handball during Udinese's 1-0 victory over Parma in March 2025. It was alleged that the referee and VAR official, who had initially decided against awarding a penalty, reversed their decision following the supposed pressure, leading to Florian Thauvin scoring the only goal of the game from the resulting spot-kick.
While the criminal investigation has concluded with a request for dismissal, the case documents have now been forwarded to the relevant sports justice authorities and the Italian Olympic Committee's General Prosecutor's Office. These bodies will assess whether any disciplinary breaches within a sporting context may have occurred, separate from the criminal implications. Sporting fraud is a serious offence under Italian law, carrying a maximum sentence of six years in prison.