Russian Betting Company Ties Spark Resistance to Appointing Pirlo as Italy Coach
Italian politicians and federation figures are questioning Andrea Pirlo’s candidacy after his Russian bookmaker role and a Moscow promotional appearance.
- Andrea Pirlo, 47, has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed Gennaro Gattuso as Italy head coach, but his potential appointment faces political resistance over his commercial ties to Russian bookmaker Fonbet.
- Scrutiny intensified after Pirlo appeared at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium with former Italy teammate Marco Materazzi for a Fonbet promotional event, which commentators noted coincided with ongoing aerial attacks on Ukraine.
- On Saturday, Ignazio La Russa, head of the Senate, told ANSA he questioned Pirlo's coaching ability, saying, "Of course I am an Italy fan and Pirlo was a great champion, but as a coach, it is a leap in the dark."
- Carlo Calenda, leader of the centrist Azione party, stated, "Anyone who is or has been promoting Russia after 2022 should not hold national office," complicating Italian Football Federation president Giovanni Malago's tenure.
- Despite the backlash, newly appointed Italian Football Federation technical director Paolo Maldini supports the hire, while Pirlo defended his involvement with the Russian operator as strictly non-political.
101 Articles
101 Articles
ROME (AP) — Andrea Pirlo was out of the race for the Italian selection post in the midst of questioning for a sponsorship agreement with a Russian betting house. This happens after Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti had already rejected offers to lead a selection that has failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups. The crisis surrounding the once proud Italian selection is expanding to new dimensions, four months after the four-time champ…
Andrea Pirlo (47) will not become the Italian national coach: advertising for a Russian gambling company dealt a fatal blow to his ambitions. The plug was expertly pulled by federation president Giovanni Malagò. What now for the Squadra?
Pirlo was an ambassador for a Russian sports betting company that often appeared with pro-Kremlin figures.
The World Champion, legendary Italian footballer Andrea Pirlo, stated that he was no longer a candidate for the post of chief coach for the Italian team, and he reported it to the Storis instagram, and Pirlo wrote that he had learned about it on the evening of July 26, and he did not specify from whom.
The names of Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini are once again being strongly linked to the Football Federation, following the rejection of Guardiola and Ancelotti for the position.
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