Italian prosecutors in Milan have formally requested the dismissal of a sports fraud case against Gianluca Rocchi, the official responsible for referee assignments in Serie A and Serie B, according to Italian news agency Ansa.

Rocchi, who serves as referee designator for the National Referees Commission, stepped aside in April after being placed under investigation on suspicion of "complicity in sporting fraud" during the 2024-25 season. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

What the investigation found

Following a two-year inquiry, prosecutors concluded there was no evidence of match-fixing and said they could not "identify a structured system aimed at interfering with appointments." The case against Inter Milan, which ran simultaneously, has also been dropped.

Among the allegations examined was a claim that Rocchi influenced the selection of a referee for an Inter Milan fixture because that official was "liked by Inter." A VAR decision not to intervene after an Inter player elbowed an opponent in a separate match also came under scrutiny.

Rocchi additionally faced accusations of pressuring a VAR official during Udinese's 1-0 victory over Parma in March last year. It was alleged that he encouraged a referee to consult the pitchside monitor over a potential handball, prompting officials to reverse their original decision and award a penalty — one that Florian Thauvin converted for the only goal of the game.

What happens next

Although the criminal case has been set aside, prosecutors have forwarded all case documents to sports justice authorities and the Italian Olympic Committee's General Prosecutor's Office. Those bodies will determine whether any disciplinary breaches within a sporting context warrant further action.

It is worth noting that sporting fraud carries serious weight in Italy — the offence is a criminal matter and can result in a maximum prison sentence of six years.