A new scandal is set to erupt around referees in Italy, as two former officials claim some refs are boosted rather than others with fake evaluations.
The Repubblica newspaper published the story, but there is also legal action in progress by two referees who were dismissed from the Serie B level due to poor performance.
These referees, Daniele Minelli and Niccolò Baroni, were confused when they were cut from the CAN B roster for poor performance, when there were two officials below them in the annual review who were kept on.
A new scandal is set to erupt around referees in Italy, as two former officials claim some refs are boosted rather than others with fake evaluations.
The Repubblica newspaper published the story, but there is also legal action in progress by two referees who were dismissed from the Serie B level due to poor performance.
These referees, Daniele Minelli and Niccolò Baroni, were confused when they were cut from the CAN B roster for poor performance, when there were two officials below them in the annual review who were kept on.
It emerged Ivan Robilotta and Eugenio Abbattista had worse performance statistics, but were allowed to continue for the 2020-21 season.
By reviewing the paperwork, they found that Abbattista was given a perfect score of 8.70 by his superiors for the final game of the season, Spezia-Chievo on August 11, 2020.
However, that evaluation was signed by Riccardo Di Fiore, who then told the two officials his score had been 8.60, so someone adjusted it.
Now they have included WhatsApp chats between members of the Serie B Refereeing Commission (CAN B) from August 21, 2020.
It shows the commission adjusting the rankings for the final games, giving Abbattista, Juan Luca Sacchi and Francesco Fourneau perfect scores of 8.70, followed by a smiling face emoji.
All three of those referees have officiated Serie A games this season.