Key Takeaways
- Former Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti claims the current refereeing investigation is minor compared to the 2006 Calciopoli scandal.
- Refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi faces allegations of sporting fraud over the selection of officials for Inter matches in April 2025.
- Moratti insists that Inter has never received favourable treatment from referees during his time at the club.
Former Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has strongly criticised the current investigation into Italian football refereeing. He described the probe as insignificant when compared to the historic Calciopoli scandal of 2006.
Gianluca Rocchi, the country’s refereeing designator, now faces serious allegations of sporting fraud. Authorities suspect he worked with unnamed individuals at San Siro in April 2025. The aim was reportedly to stop Daniele Doveri from officiating Inter matches. Instead, Rocchi allegedly chose referees that the club preferred.
Four other officials from the refereeing world are also under investigation. However, Moratti, who led Inter during the 2006 crisis, maintains his club has always operated cleanly.
“I feared and respected referees back then,” Moratti explained. “They could decide my team’s fate, especially with Juventus as our rival. I considered refereeing a difficult job. Therefore, I never spoke with them.”
He expressed shock that convicted figures from Calciopoli are now giving interviews about the current situation. “I read comments from De Santis and Luciano Moggi. It is incredible that people ask for their views. What is happening now is ridiculous compared to that scandal.”
The original Calciopoli case involved several clubs pressuring refereeing chiefs to select specific officials. However, authorities never charged anyone with sporting fraud. Most evidence came from recorded phone conversations. Investigators later found calls involving Inter director Giacinto Facchetti. However, these emerged too late for legal action due to time limits.
Moratti also defended Inter’s current position on the pitch. “When I watch matches, I see no bias. Inter has never received help from referees. This applies whether we win or lose. Referees can make mistakes. Sometimes these are serious errors. But such things have always occurred in football.”