Overview
- Rai Sport director Paolo Petrecca notified staff by email that the broadcaster has ended Varriale’s contract for just cause, with the message first sent internally on October 1 and shared with the newsroom on October 2.
- In June, a Rome judge convicted Varriale in first instance of stalking and assaulting an ex-partner, imposing a 10‑month suspended sentence and mandating participation in a program for men who commit violence against women.
- A second criminal case for alleged stalking and injuries involving another former partner remains ongoing, separate from the June verdict.
- Company communications and reporting indicate the termination is framed as a just‑cause measure based on conduct judged incompatible with contractual obligations, with some outlets noting Rai says it is not formally tied to pending criminal proceedings.
- Varriale has announced he will appeal both the criminal conviction and the firing, and he cites a January 22, 2025 labor ruling that he says found Rai had dequalified him during his prior suspension.