The head of Italy’s refereeing committee, Gianluca Rocchi, has temporarily stepped down from his duties to allow an ongoing investigation into allegations of corruption and the management of referee appointments in Italian football.
According to reports from sports media outlets including TalkSport, the move is a self-suspension aimed at allowing legal and administrative investigations to proceed without pressure.
Rocchi, one of the senior officials of the Italian Referees Association (AIA), is being investigated alongside other executives over alleged favoritism in referee appointments and the use of VAR in certain Serie A matches.
However, there is currently no official confirmation of wrongdoing, and Italian authorities have stated that the investigation is still ongoing.
The development has sparked widespread debate within Italian football, recalling past scandals involving league governance, although stakeholders have emphasized that the current situation remains under investigation rather than judgment.
The Italian Referees Association has stated that Rocchi’s temporary withdrawal is intended to protect the integrity of the institution and ensure the investigation is conducted transparently and without bias.
