Key Takeaways
- Inter Milan’s referee liaison officer Giorgio Schenone was named in police recordings involving suspended referee chief Gianluca Rocchi.
- The position involves teaching players the rules of the game and studying referee personalities, though not all Italian clubs employ such a specialist.
- Strict rules forbid these managers from directly lobbying officials; all communication must go through official channels.
Italian football faces a serious crisis after the country’s top referee selector stepped down from his post. Gianluca Rocchi, who decides which officials take charge of Serie A and Serie B matches, suspended himself this week following new revelations.
Police have been listening to Rocchi’s phone calls. In one taped conversation from April this year, he mentioned Giorgio Schenone. Schenone works for Inter Milan as their club referee manager.
The recordings suggest Rocchi believed Inter wanted specific referees kept away from their important fixtures. However, investigators say Schenone was not actually speaking on the call himself. The exact details of their relationship remain unclear.
This case has raised questions about what a club referee manager actually does. Not every team in Italy has one. Those that do use them as a link between the squad and match officials.
Marco Gabriele, who has worked in this role, explains the duties. “We teach players the laws of the game,” he says. “Many footballers do not know the handball rules or how to speak politely to referees.”
He recalls that some players take a deep interest. Former goalkeeper Pepe Reina used to send messages asking about decisions in matches he did not even play in.
The job also involves detailed preparation. Managers study the next referee’s character. “Massa is very strict and keeps his distance,” Gabriele notes. “But Maresca and Guida like to talk with players during games.”
They also warn coaches about opposition threats. If a winger such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia often wins fouls that lead to yellow cards, the team must know this risk before kick-off.
On matchday, the manager greets the officials at the stadium. They show them to the changing room and ask if they need medical support. After the match, they arrange transport to hotels or airports.
There are strict limits to the role. Only the club president or one nominated representative may enter the referee’s room to offer a formal greeting. No one may enter to argue about decisions.
“You cannot phone the referee to complain,” Gabriele stresses. Clubs must use an official go-between, currently Andrea De Marco, to request explanations. These conversations must stay calm and professional.
While Schenone was mentioned in Rocchi’s calls, investigators have not accused him of wrongdoing. The reasons why Rocchi believed Inter objected to certain referees are still unknown.