According to multiple reports in Italy, former Referee Designator Gianluca Rocchi was allegedly caught on wiretap telling VAR supervisor Andrea Gervasoni that ‘they’ no longer wanted to see a particular referee. Yet, exactly who Rocchi was referring to remains unclear.
A probe into alleged sports fraud in Italy remains ongoing, with five individuals connected to the refereeing profession currently under investigation.
Among them is Serie A and Serie B Designator Rocchi, who suspended himself earlier this week.
Gazzetta and Corriere della Sera report provide the latest updates on the matter on Sunday.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 10: Referee Gianluca Rocchi reacts during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final first leg match between Manchester United and FC Barcelona at Old Trafford on April 10, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
According to both sources, Rocchi was caught on wiretap in April 2025 telling Gervasoni, who is also under investigation: “They don’t want to see him anymore.”
During the same conversation, Rocchi also mentioned the name “Giorgio”, leading investigators to believe that the ex-Referee Designator referred to Inter’s Referee Manager Giorgio Schenone.
The Milan Prosecutors did try to precisely identify who “they” referred to, obtaining authorisation from the investigating judge for additional weeks of wiretaps on certain targets.
AIA chief Gianluca Rocchi (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
However, in early summer 2025, the judge brought the surveillance to an end, rejecting a request for a further extension after the additional wiretaps failed to produce any new evidence.
Currently, there are five people under investigation, but none from clubs.