Dino Tommasi has been appointed as the interim refereeing designator for Serie A and Serie B for the remainder of the season, following the suspension of Gianluca Rocchi. The move comes after Rocchi stepped aside amid a formal investigation into allegations of sporting fraud.
Scandal Rocks Italian Football
The controversy erupted last week when it was confirmed that Rocchi had been placed under official investigation. Among the allegations is that he assigned referees favourable to Inter for certain fixtures, while avoiding those the club reportedly opposed. He is also accused of improperly influencing a match by banging on the window of the VAR booth during the Udinese vs Parma game in an attempt to alter a decision.
With Rocchi’s suspension, the Italian Football Federation required an immediate replacement to oversee referee appointments and performance evaluations across the top two divisions. The role of designator is pivotal in determining which officials are assigned to high-profile matches based on their performance records.
Tommasi Steps Into Leadership Role
Dino Tommasi, a former referee from Bassano del Grappa, will take on the interim position. He will turn 50 next month and previously officiated 52 Serie A matches after making his top-flight debut in March 2008. Since retiring from on-field duties, Tommasi has moved into management within Italian football’s refereeing structure.
His appointment brings experience and familiarity with the league’s officiating standards. As designator, Tommasi will now be responsible for assigning referees to matches and assessing their performances — a role under intense scrutiny following the current scandal.