Marotta aims dig at FIGC about referees as Gravina plans ‘professional’ reform

Tensions between Serie A clubs and referees spilled into the open during the FIGC’s summit in Rome, where Inter president Giuseppe Marotta directly confronted referee chief Gianluca Rocchi.

According to the Corriere dello Sport, Marotta interrupted the meeting to ask Rocchi: “What do you need to improve? We’re all here and willing to help.” Rocchi’s reply was telling and aimed partly at FIGC president Gabriele Gravina, sitting nearby.

“I’d need to see referees every week, not once every three weeks. I’d need a staff that follows them constantly – including a psychologist, especially for the VAR.”

Gravina reportedly reiterated his plan to professionalise Italian refereeing, separating Serie A and B officials into an independent body similar to England’s PGMOL.

The aim is to give top referees better support, pay and training structures.

The meeting also tackled the growing controversies around VAR usage.

Rocchi admitted mistakes had been made, stressing that “the VAR suggests, but the referee decides,” while confirming concerns over a recent drop in decision accuracy, from 90% last season to just 82% this month.