Scandal in Italy: referee tells VAR to ‘stay out’ of penalty decision.

Scandal in Italian Football: VAR Referee Told “Mind Your Business” in Controversial Penalty Decision in Inter-Roma!

The Italian Serie A is shaken by an explosive case that could tarnish the integrity of the championship. According to a detailed journalistic investigation, a former referee and current VAR supervisor allegedly pressured the video referee to ignore a potential penalty in favor of Inter Milan during a crucial match against Roma, played in April 2025. The incident, described as a scandalous interference, is exacerbating a deep crisis in transalpine football, with five matches from the 2024-25 season under scrutiny by the authorities.

At the center of the storm is Andrea Gervasoni, a former referee and current VAR supervisor, who, according to witnesses heard by the Milan prosecutor’s office, told VAR referee Marco Di Bello to “mind your business” during the review of a possible penalty for a handball by Evan Ndicka on Yann Bisseck, a play that could have changed the course of the match at the iconic Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan. Roma ultimately won 1-0, a decisive result in the title race.

This case is not isolated. Four other matches from the same championship are under investigation, in an inquiry involving five people, including Gianluca Rocchi, the referee designator for Serie A and Serie B, known for being a controversial figure. According to sources close to the case, Rocchi is said to have maintained “constant and unauthorized contacts with club officials,” attempting to “favor personal interests” and removing referees who did not submit to his methods.

Almost 30 referees have already been heard by prosecutor Maurizio Ascione, in an operation that promises to shake the foundations of Italian football. So far, there are no players or club officials implicated, but the focus is on those responsible for refereeing and VAR supervision.

The controversy intensified when, just days after the Inter-Roma match, Gianluca Rocchi himself admitted that a penalty should have been awarded: “The assessment made on the field was not to award the penalty, but when something is incorrectly assessed, it remains a mistake. Ndicka’s behavior is of the kind that shows total disinterest in the ball and, for me, that is already punishable. The final decision was influenced by the low intensity of the hold, but it is definitely a penalty that should have been awarded.”

The case raises serious questions about transparency and fairness in Italian football, especially at a time when VAR should be the guarantor of sporting truth. The absence of the complete audio from the VAR camera in that incident raises even more doubts and fuels suspicion of manipulation.

With the investigation ongoing and pressure mounting, Italian football is at a crossroads: regain the trust of fans or risk an institutional collapse that could tarnish Serie A for many years. The upcoming chapters of this scandal promise to be explosive and will test the limits of backstage power in football. Stay tuned for updates on this case that could redefine the future of officiating in Italy!

This article first appeared on Apito Final.