Gianluca Rocchi, the referee designator for Serie A and Serie B, recently provided insights into the current state of officiating in Italian football during a special program on Sky Sport. He addressed several key issues, including VAR implementation, referee performance, and specific match incidents.
Rocchi began by acknowledging recent challenges: “The last matchday created problems for us because we made mistakes, or rather, we misinterpreted situations. The difference between commentators and us is that we have regulations to follow, and there are situations and ideas that are difficult to reconcile.”
Regarding VAR usage, Rocchi stated: “VAR starts with the idea that intervention should be made if the error is serious. We’re not off track because we’re in line with European competitions and other leagues, except for the Premier League. The intervention range has widened.”
On the impact of VAR on referees, Rocchi was firm: “Does the presence of VAR soften the referee? If I discover this, they won’t officiate in Serie A. It’s a generational change; today’s referee is different from 30 years ago. The modern referee is in a greater comfort zone with this tool. However, we are very strict when we don’t see them making decisions on the field.”
Addressing the balance between technology and on-field decision-making, Rocchi emphasized: “VAR intervenes if there’s a clear error. We don’t intervene on all contacts in the penalty area. Can you determine contact with a scale? No, in fact, our main task is to make good referees.”
Rocchi also discussed match management: “A good referee must be one who understands what kind of match they’re facing. A referee who doesn’t whistle when the two teams have many contacts is making a mistake. My goal is for the referee to understand the type of match.”
On specific incidents, Rocchi provided clarity: “Dodo-Theo episode? Whoever arrives first wins. Dodo has the right to play the ball first, obviously. For VAR officials, you need to give an idea: if two players arrive on the ball and one takes the other, they must assess whether there’s a foul or just contact.”
Regarding communication and the “step on foot” rule, Rocchi explained: “The way of communicating between VAR and referee is very concise. There will always be a different way of thinking between the commentator and the referee. Step on foot? It arises because they rightly realize it’s a type that’s increasing, it should be punished with a foul and a yellow card.”
In conclusion, Rocchi emphasized the ongoing challenges in interpretation: “If a large part of opinion thinks like you that it’s not a penalty, it should definitely be evaluated. I think it’s fundamental that individual interpretation is normal to expect.”
