Could Inter Really Be Sent to Serie B? Inside the Refereeing Scandal Shaking Italian Football
Every 20 years or so, Italian football seems to be hit by a scandal big enough to shake the entire system.
In 1980, Milan and Lazio were sent down to Serie B. In 2006, Juventus suffered the same fate after Calciopoli. Now, almost two decades later, Italy is once again facing a refereeing scandal — and this time Inter have found themselves in the middle of it.
According to Italian reports, Milan prosecutors, led by Maurizio Ascione, have formally accused former refereeing chief Gianluca Rocchi of sporting fraud and allegedly helping Inter through referee appointments and VAR influence.
The question is obvious: could this really become a new Calciopoli? And could Inter actually be punished as severely as Juventus once were?
At this stage, it is important to say one thing clearly: Inter have not been found guilty of anything. These are accusations and an active investigation. But the details coming out of Italy are serious enough to deserve a full breakdown.
The Core Accusation: Referees Allegedly “Suitable” for Inter
The most unusual part of the story is this: Inter allegedly received help in some matches — but still lost two of the three biggest games mentioned in the case.
Italian agency AGI points to several episodes from the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons. Prosecutors reportedly believe Rocchi created a system in which VAR officials and referees felt pressure not to go against Inter, fearing lower internal ratings or career consequences.
Inter 2-1 Verona — January 6, 2024
The first major incident concerns Inter’s 2-1 win over Verona in Serie A.
Davide Frattesi scored the winning goal in stoppage time, but before that, Alessandro Bastoni appeared to catch Ondrej Duda in the face with his elbow.
According to AGI, one of the VAR assistants deliberately did not send referee Michael Fabbri to the monitor.
The exact name of the suspected VAR official has not been made public, but investigators reportedly link the episode to Rocchi’s wider influence. Their theory is that officials were afraid to make decisions against Inter because of how Rocchi’s refereeing system worked.
Bologna 1-0 Inter — April 20, 2025
The second episode is even stranger.
Before Bologna vs Inter, Rocchi allegedly attended the Milan derby in the Coppa Italia and arranged for Andrea Colombo to referee Inter’s league match against Bologna.
The report allegedly described Colombo as “suitable for the away team, which was fighting for the Scudetto at the end of the season.”
But if this was meant to help Inter, it did not work.
Bologna won 1-0 in stoppage time after Riccardo Orsolini scored a spectacular overhead kick — a goal that badly damaged Inter’s title hopes.
Milan 3-0 Inter — Coppa Italia Semi-Final
The next case concerns the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final between Milan and Inter.
Prosecutors reportedly believe Rocchi also arranged for Daniele Doveri to referee that derby. The logic was bizarre: Doveri was supposedly considered an “unloved” referee by Inter, meaning he would not be appointed to their later important games, including a possible final.
But again, the theory did not survive contact with reality.
Milan destroyed Inter 3-0, with Luka Jovic scoring twice, and reached the final. Inter then lost again to Roma in Serie A, 1-0.
So the alleged “system” looks far from simple: there are accusations of favorable appointments, but the actual results often went against Inter.
The Udinese vs Parma Penalty: The VAR Moment That Raised More Questions
Another key part of the investigation does not involve Inter directly.
On March 1, 2025, Udinese beat Parma 1-0 thanks to a controversial penalty for handball. The decision became important because of what allegedly happened inside the VAR room.
Il Gazzettino published footage from the VAR center. Referee Fabio Maresca initially did not want to award a penalty. VAR official Daniele Paterna also seemed unconvinced, reportedly saying:
“Look at the position of the arm. It looks like it is resting on the body.”
But then Paterna allegedly looked at someone off camera, received a signal or advice, and called Maresca to the monitor. The decision was changed, and Udinese got the penalty.
Italian reports claim the person off camera may have been Rocchi. One of Rocchi’s former assistants reportedly said Gianluca “quickly got up and knocked on the glass several times.”
Milan prosecutors later called Paterna as a witness. But during questioning, Maurizio Ascione reportedly doubted his testimony and changed Paterna’s status from witness to suspect.
This is one of the moments that appears to have pushed the case from internal refereeing complaints into something much bigger.
How the Investigation Started
According to Sky Sport Italia, the original spark came from a letter written about a year ago by former assistant referee Domenico Rocchi.
He complained to the Italian Referees Association about what he saw as excessively harsh evaluations of his work and reportedly made it clear he would not leave the matter there.
At first, the case seemed to go nowhere. Domenico Rocchi was questioned, and the matter was closed.
But as Italian media put it, he had “stirred the hive.”
From there, the investigation expanded.
Andrea Gervasoni, the VAR coordinator for Serie A and Serie B, was also accused of fraud. La Gazzetta dello Sport recalled another match, Salernitana vs Modena in Serie B, where Gervasoni allegedly influenced a VAR assistant in a similar way.
Gervasoni has already resigned voluntarily. Gianluca Rocchi has also stepped aside, although he insists it is temporary.
His next questioning is scheduled for April 30.
Rocchi’s Statement
Rocchi has denied wrongdoing and said his decision to step aside was made to protect the refereeing commission and allow the investigation to continue calmly.
His statement was quoted in Italian media:
“In relation to today’s events, in agreement with the Italian Referees Association and for the sake of the National Refereeing Commission, which must work in a calm environment, I am immediately suspending myself from the position of head of the commission.
This is a painful and difficult decision, but one agreed with my family. It is intended to ensure the judicial process can proceed without obstacles, and I am confident I will emerge from it innocent and even stronger than before.”
Rocchi’s lawyer, Antonio D’Avirro, also made his position clear:
“My client disputes the charges brought against him.”
For now, there will be no punishment while the investigation is ongoing.
Could This Become a New Calciopoli?
This is the part that has created the biggest headlines.
La Stampa and Il Fatto Quotidiano have both discussed the possibility of a “new Calciopoli” scenario. If prosecutors were able to prove Inter’s involvement, Italian reports suggest the club could theoretically face serious sporting consequences.
Those could include being stripped of the Serie A title and Italian Super Cup from the previous season, a points deduction, or — in the most extreme scenario — relegation to Serie B.
But this is still speculation from Italian journalists. There is no sporting verdict, no confirmed punishment, and no proven direct involvement of Inter at this stage.
Inter Finally Respond
For several days, Inter stayed silent. Italian media suggested the club’s management was shocked by the accusations and was holding internal talks to understand the situation.
Then, before the match against Torino, club president Beppe Marotta finally spoke.
His message was firm:
“We are learning everything from the press. These statements surprise us: we do not have referees we like or dislike. We know we acted with complete honesty. This is the most important fact, and it should reassure everyone.”
Marotta also argued that Inter had themselves suffered from refereeing decisions:
“Last season, and I am not saying this to complain, there were decisions made against us. Even obvious decisions, such as the penalty in Inter vs Roma.”
Asked about the accusations linked to the first Coppa Italia match against Milan, he added:
“They surprise me. I cannot find any connection. I learned everything from the press and I have given a full answer. I do not want to say anything more. We are in Turin to play a match and bring home the deserved Scudetto. We acted with complete honesty.”
Italy’s Sports Minister Warns of Consequences
Italy’s sports minister Andrea Abodi also reacted carefully, but warned that if wrongdoing is proven, consequences will follow.
“I, like you, am reading the details that are now emerging from the Milan prosecutor’s investigation. I hope to receive official information as soon as possible. If anyone’s unlawful actions are established, the consequences will be inevitable.”
That line matters because it shows the political level is now watching the case closely.
The FIGC Prosecutor Is Also Under Pressure
Another important figure is FIGC prosecutor Giuseppe Chiné.
He was the one who reportedly dismissed Domenico Rocchi’s complaint against Gianluca Rocchi a year ago. Now he is also under investigation.
Chiné has said that at the time, nothing illegal was found in Gianluca Rocchi’s actions. But he also admitted that if new evidence emerges, the situation could change significantly.
Serie A President Calls for Caution
Serie A president Ezio Simonelli urged everyone not to jump to conclusions.
His statement was one of the most careful in the whole story:
“I would like to point out that, as in any other situation, these are accusations by investigators, and everyone must consider them as such within normal democratic discussion.
Hasty judgments or conclusions of any kind are unacceptable, because we are waiting in good faith for the investigation to be completed in order to establish the truth.”
Simonelli also warned that irresponsible coverage could damage the entire league:
“None of us knows any details of the case, and our direct duty is to act as guarantors until the decision stage. Otherwise, there is a risk of causing enormous reputational damage to the Serie A system and the entire Italian football movement because of a distorted narrative and media persecution.”
So, Could Inter Really Be Sent to Serie B?
In theory, yes — but only under a very specific and serious set of circumstances.
For Inter to face anything like a points deduction, title stripping or relegation, prosecutors and sporting authorities would need to prove direct club involvement in a system of manipulation.
Right now, that has not happened.
The investigation is focused mainly on refereeing officials, VAR decisions and alleged internal pressure inside the refereeing structure. Inter’s name appears because some of the alleged episodes involved matches connected to them, but the club denies wrongdoing and insists it acted honestly.
So the most accurate answer is this:
Inter are not close to Serie B today. But the scandal is serious enough that Italian football cannot ignore it.
And because Italy has lived through 1980 and 2006 before, nobody can completely dismiss the possibility that this case could grow into something much bigger.
For now, the next key date is April 30, when Rocchi is expected to face further questioning.
Until then, the scandal remains exactly what Serie A feared most: not a verdict, but a cloud hanging over the credibility of the whole league.
Published by Patrick Jane
27.04.2026