Key Takeaways
- Giorgio Schenone, Inter Milan’s referee liaison, has been identified as the club contact in alleged collusion with top official Gianluca Rocchi.
- Rocchi faces sporting fraud charges for reportedly changing referee appointments to favour Inter during the April 2025 run-in.
- The scandal involves removing Daniele Doveri from key Nerazzurri matches and replacing him with Andrea Colombo.
Investigators have named Inter Milan’s club referee manager as the individual who allegedly worked with Serie A designator Gianluca Rocchi to influence match official appointments. This development comes from wiretapped telephone conversations that form part of a wider sporting fraud probe into Italian football.
Rocchi serves as the chief appointing authority for referees in Serie A and Serie B. He is one of five officials from the Italian Association of Referees (AIA) currently facing serious criminal investigations. The most severe charge against him involves sporting fraud.
The case centres on decisions made during April 2025. Prosecutors claim Rocchi conspired with an Inter representative to remove referee Daniele Doveri from high-profile Nerazzurri fixtures. The official allegedly selected Andrea Colombo to take charge of these critical end-of-season games instead. Sources suggest the Milan club did not favour Doveri’s appointment for these crucial clashes.
For several weeks, the identity of the Inter contact remained unknown. No employees from the club were officially listed as suspects. However, daily newspaper Repubblica now reports that the figure is Giorgio Schenone.
Schenone previously worked as an assistant referee in Italy from 2009 until 2020. After retiring from active duty, he joined Inter Milan in an administrative capacity. His current role involves managing all referee-related coordination for the club.
A club referee manager carries out several important duties on match days. They meet with officials before home games and accompany them to the changing rooms. They ensure visiting referees have all necessary facilities and support during their time at the stadium. Additionally, they brief Inter players about the referee’s expected style of officiating and any recent changes to rule interpretations.
These liaison officers maintain regular communication with the AIA regarding previous performances and controversial decisions. This position places them at the centre of relations between the club and the refereeing body, making the current allegations particularly significant for the Nerazzurri.