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.
60 Articles
60 Articles
Andrea Pirlo is not there and breaks the silence. The current technician of the United Fc of Dubai, candidate for the bench of the Italian National team, took the floor trying to close the controversy...
Paolo Maldini took up the position just two weeks ago. Now he is considering leaving. This after politicians want to prevent his signing of Andrea Pirlo as national coach, reports Gazzetta.
The possible landing place of Andrea Pirlo on the bench of the National team has suddenly become complicated and, if the appointment really had to jump, could also change the internal balances of the new federal management. The one that was to represent the first big choice of the new course of the Figc in fact risks to become a political case, with inevitable repercussions on the relations between the top of the Federcalcio. After the failure o…
Figc's technical director defends the coach after the Russian question. But President Malagò pushes to find other names
The exvolante was the favorite to assume the technical leadership of the transalpine selection, however, an association with the Russian site Fonbet put the deal on hold.
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