Key Takeaways
- Andrea Gervasoni spoke with investigators for four hours regarding allegations of sporting fraud in Italian football.
- The former VAR supervisor insists the audio from the Inter Milan versus AS Roma clash was not manipulated.
- Serie A refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi refused to attend his scheduled interrogation session.
Andrea Gervasoni has told police he is completely sure that no one changed the VAR audio from the Inter Milan versus AS Roma match. The refereeing supervisor spoke with investigators for four hours on Thursday.
Italian football is facing a new corruption crisis. Gianluca Rocchi, the top official who picks referees for Serie A and Serie B matches, is under investigation for sporting fraud. Four other people from the refereeing world are also part of this probe.
The interrogations started today in Milan. Rocchi did not attend his meeting. However, Gervasoni, who recently stepped down from his VAR supervisor role, did speak with the authorities. He brought his lawyer, Michele Ducci, to the session.
The investigators asked about two specific matches. Ducci explained that his client was not involved in the Salernitana against Modena game. “He was working in a different building that day,” the lawyer said. “He was watching Serie A fixtures, not Serie B. He could not have interfered with that match.”
They also discussed the Inter-Roma clash. Ducci noted that video evidence shows Gervasoni played no part in the incident. “Everything happened in just 15 seconds. There was no time for anyone to step in and change anything.”
The case involves footage from the DAZN Italia television programme “Open VAR”. This programme broadcasts the conversations between referees and VAR officials during matches. Reports suggest the clip shown on TV lasted only 37 seconds. However, the original recording was 50 to 60 seconds longer.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting, Gervasoni defended the integrity of the audio. “I am one hundred per cent sure nobody manipulated the Inter-Roma audio,” he stated. “But we did not watch that video clip today.”
He added that the investigators did not ask about favouritism towards certain referees. “That question never came up today. We do not know anything about those claims. We are not Rocchi,” Gervasoni concluded.