News set to shake Italian football arrived in the early afternoon via the ANSA news agency: as part of an investigation by the Milan Prosecutor’s Office centred on former referee designator Gianluca Rocchi, concrete evidence of rigged referee appointments has reportedly emerged. The findings stem from testimonies given by referees questioned during the inquiry.
The Two Contested Episodes
At the heart of the accusations are two specific episodes allegedly involving biased appointment decisions:
- 2 April 2022, San Siro: the appointment of referee Andrea Colombo, described as an official favoured by Inter, is alleged to have been the result of a manipulated decision.
- 20 April (previous season), Bologna: the choice of Daniele Doveri for the Coppa Italia semi-final is said to have been designed to “use him up” early, thereby avoiding his appointment for the final or Inter’s closing league matches — fixtures to which Doveri was considered unwelcome.
The Unanswered Questions
What this investigation makes clear is not just the what, but above all the why and the for whom. Who could have benefited from these rigged appointments? Who might Rocchi have been in contact with? What was the true objective behind these alleged manoeuvres?
These are fundamental questions that investigators are working to answer, and further developments could emerge in the coming days. The world of football is waiting for answers, and Rossoneri fans — who on many occasions have questioned the impartiality of certain referee performances — are following this story with close attention.
An Investigation That Could Change Everything
Should rigged appointments be confirmed in subsequent judicial proceedings, this would represent an unprecedented scandal for Italian football — one capable of calling into question results, standings and certainties built up over years of competition. The Milan Prosecutor’s Office continues its work, and the entire Italian refereeing system is now called upon to provide clarity, in the interest of transparency and the credibility of sport.
