FLASH
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The storm that has engulfed the Italian Referees Association continues with no signs of abating, while investigations are taking on wider dimensions. Gianluca Rocchi, one of the main figures in the refereeing sector, has self-excluded himself to defend himself against accusations of involvement in sports fraud, at a time when new details are coming to light from the Milan Prosecutor's Office.
According to the Italian daily "La Repubblica", the investigations are no longer limited to specific episodes during matches, but are extending to a wider network of relationships. The focus is on the frequent and direct contacts that Roki is suspected of having had with the managers of many Serie A and Serie B clubs. It is reported that it is about continuous interactions with representatives of around 29 clubs.
Formally, the role of the referee designer involves institutional communication with clubs. However, investigators are seeking to determine whether these relationships have crossed the boundaries of protocol, potentially influencing the appointment of referees or VAR decision-making.
Another element being analyzed is a communication method described as codified, ironically called “Gioca Jouer.” According to reports, this form of communication may have been used to guide the decisions of the referees in the VAR room in Lissone, through signals and indirect messages.
Currently, it is important to note that there are no club directors under investigation. The focus of the proceedings remains on the arbitration class. However, wiretapping and analysis of telephone communications from the first months of 2025 are prompting prosecutors to deepen their investigations into the nature of these contacts.
The main suspicion is related to the existence of preferences for certain referees, an element that, if proven, would call into question the integrity of the entire refereeing system in Italy. While criminal justice continues its work, with Roki expected to be questioned on April 30, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) Prosecutor's Office has also started moving.
Sports prosecutor Giuseppe Chinè has requested the documentation from Milan. If unauthorized contacts or pressure in favor of certain teams are identified, the way could be opened for a new sports process, with consequences that could range from fines to points deductions for the clubs concerned.
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