Here is the latest update from the ongoing FIFA World Cup as of 2026-07-15 20:30:00.
Milan’s public prosecutor has officially closed the investigation into former Serie A referee chief Gianluca Rocchi and his deputy Andrea Gervasoni regarding accusations of sports fraud.
Rocchi, who led referee management for Serie A and Serie B, faced scrutiny starting in April for allegedly manipulating VAR decisions and altering referee appointments.
However, a statement from the Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office revealed a lack of evidence supporting a coordinated effort to interfere with referee selections.
The investigation centered on incidents from the 2024-25 Serie A season, where Rocchi was accused of selecting a more favorable referee for an Inter Milan match. Notably, Inter Milan finished just one point behind Serie A champions Napoli that season but were not implicated in any wrongdoing.
In another incident, Rocchi reportedly interfered with VAR protocols during a match between Udinese and Parma on March 1, 2025. Witnesses alleged he knocked on the VAR booth window and suggested that officials review a penalty decision.
The details of this incident have been forwarded to the Monza Public Prosecutor’s Office, which oversees the VAR Operations room.
During the investigation, Rocchi voluntarily stepped down and was replaced initially by Dino Tommasi and subsequently by Daniele Orsato.
Rocchi’s attorney, Antonio D’Avirro, expressed relief at the swift resolution of the case, stating, “He is very pleased. Now we will consider our next steps.” D’Avirro emphasized that the actions attributed to Rocchi were meant to rectify a significant referee mistake rather than manipulate match outcomes.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 on the horizon, this case illustrates the ongoing scrutiny faced by officials in professional leagues.
FAQs
What were the allegations against Gianluca Rocchi?
He was accused of influencing VAR decisions and altering referee selections during matches.
What was the outcome of the investigation?
The Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the case due to lack of evidence supporting the allegations.
Quick Facts
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- Source: www.espn.com – SOCCER
- Published: 2026-07-15 20:30:00
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Tags: #Fraud #case #exSerie #referee #chief #dropped
Tags: #Fraud #case #exSerie #referee #chief #dropped
