Dino Tommasi used his first appearance as interim referees’ designator to publicly back his predecessor Gianluca Rocchi following the controversy that has shaken Italian officiating.

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Tommasi, recently appointed by the national referees’ committee to oversee Serie A and Serie B appointments, made his debut in the role during a broadcast of Open VAR.

The former official stepped in after Rocchi and his assistant Andrea Gervasoni chose to suspend themselves amid an ongoing investigation by the Milan prosecutor’s office.

FLORENCE, ITALY – MAY 23: Gianluca Rocchi former Italian referee and referee designator for the Serie A and Serie B championships during the FIGC Hall of Fame Event on May 23, 2022 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the situation, Tommasi sought to calm tensions and reinforce unity within the refereeing body. He made it clear that the group remains focused on maintaining consistency and professionalism during a crucial phase of the season.

He opened with a direct show of support, via TuttoMercatoWeb, explaining that “I want to send a message of solidarity to Gianluca and Andrea on behalf of the entire refereeing group, a strong message of closeness.”

Tommasi also stressed the importance of stability as the campaign approaches its decisive weeks, adding that “we are calm and we want to finish the season with stability and determination.”

The statement reflects an effort to protect the integrity of Italian refereeing at a delicate moment, while ensuring that on-field operations continue without disruption.