Italy faces backlash over Pirlo Russia betting ties | JQJO

Italy’s plans to appoint Andrea Pirlo as national team coach are encountering resistance in Rome over his commercial ties to Russian betting company Fonbet. The 47-year-old World Cup winner, now coaching United FC in Dubai’s United Arab Emirates Pro League, had emerged as the front-runner to replace Gennaro Gattuso after former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reportedly declined the job. However, senior figures in the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and members of parliament are examining the implications of Pirlo’s role as a global ambassador for Fonbet, a Russian bookmaker, and the visibility of that partnership at a recent promotional event in Moscow.

Italy’s scrutiny intensified after Pirlo appeared alongside former Italy teammate Marco Materazzi at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium in an event organised by Fonbet that coincided with aerial attacks on Ukraine, drawing criticism from commentators and politicians. Pirlo has defended his involvement, stating that his presence in Moscow was purely commercial and non-political. The dispute has complicated the start of Giovanni Malago’s presidency of the FIGC, coming just weeks after his election to oversee a restructuring of Italian football following the national team’s third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup, and has overshadowed support for Pirlo from newly appointed FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini.