FIGC to investigate referee Piero Giacomelli

It’s reported the FIGC will open an investigation into claims referee Piero Giacomelli had a picture of Francesco Totti on his pseudonymous Facebook page.

The official attracted controversy for his decisions in Lazio’s defeat to Torino, as he denied the Biancocelesti a penalty and sent off Ciro Immobile.

It was later claimed Giacomelli had a Facebook page under the pseudonym ‘Jack O’Melly’, on which there was a photo of him refereeing as Roma legend Totti takes a penalty.

Referees are allowed to have social media profiles, but are forbidden from discussing football.

In addition, Giacomelli owned Café Rossetti in his home city of Trieste, and the bar’s Facebook page is said to have used an image of Totti to advertise that they were showing a Roma match.

The investigation isn't alleging the official is actively biased, merely if he broke rules governing social media use.

Indeed, Giacomelli will be back in action in midweek when he'll be on VAR duty for Atalanta-Sassuolo in the Coppa Italia.

According to ANSA, today the FIGC will open an investigation into these claims to see if the referee broke any rules.