Ex-Referee claims ‘errors have multiplied at an alarming rate’ after Rocchi investigation
Ex-Referee claims ‘errors have multiplied at an alarming rate’ after Rocchi investigation Former referee Daniele Minelli has brought further claims and provided more details regarding the latest refereeing scandal, and claims that errors have ‘multiplied at an alarming rate’ after a complaint about referee designator Gianluca Rocchi was brought forward last year. Serie A and Serie B referee designator Rocchi is currently under investigation for suspected participation in sporting fraud, a particularly serious charge that wasn’t even brought against referees during the infamous Calciopoli scandal. The matter began in May 2025 when former assistant referee Domenico Rocca sent a letter of complaint to the Italian referees’ association (AIA) regarding designator Rocchi.
AIA chief Gianluca Rocchi (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) FIGC prosecutor Giuseppe Chine has confirmed that t he matter was investigated and later closed last year, but this is now being investigated by the public prosecutor’s office in Milan due to potential criminal relevance. The investigation centres around an incident that occurred during the Serie A match between Udinese and Parma on March 1, 2025. During that game, there was a review for a potential penalty, which VAR official Daniele Paterna appeared inclined to rule out, however, footage shows that Paterna looked back, appeared to be talking to somebody behind him, was seen asking ‘is it a penalty?
’, and this has led to claims that VAR decisions were being influenced by external figures. Reports in Italy claim that various other incidents have been brought under review, including referee Daniele Doveri being removed from certain Inter matches at the end of the 2024-25 season, as he was not considered a ‘favourable’ choice for the Nerazzurri. MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Match referee, Daniele Doveri shows Antonio Conte, Head Coach of SSC Napoli, (not pictured) a red card during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
(Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Minelli provides further details and allegations in refereeing scandal Speaking to news agency AGI (via La Gazzetta dello Sport ), former ref Minelli, who spent most of his officiating career in Serie B with a handful of outings in the top flight, claims that interference in the VAR room was a well-known thing among officials. He also says that refs whose errors were corrected by VAR would receive a higher rating, and would therefore be more likely to appear in big matches, while those who didn’t have their mistakes corrected would drop lower down the referees’ ranking, and in some cases, might not even be paid. “The knocks (on the glass) of the VAR room?
People were talking about it and it was well known that the protocol didn’t allow it,” Minelli said. LIVORNO, ITALY – JULY 31: Daniele Minelli referee during the serie B match between AS Livorno and FC Empoli at Armando Picchi Stadium on July 31, 2020 in Livorno, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images for Lega Serie B) “In the case of Udinese vs.