Andrea Pirlo has confirmed he is no longer in line to coach Italy, with his sponsorship deal with a Russian betting firm believed to behind the development. Several Italian politicians have raised concerns about Pirlo’s role as an ambassador for Fonbet, saying the national team coach should not have conflicting views on Italy’s support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.
Writing on Instagram on Monday, Pirlo said he “heard last night that I’m no longer the candidate for the Italy national team job”. The former Azzurri midfielder had previously insisted the Fonbet deal was linked to his job in the United Arab Emirates and is “exclusively for commercial and sports purposes”, adding: “Attributing a political significance to that collaboration means attributing beliefs to me that I have never expressed and don’t belong to me.”
Pirlo added: “Over the past few days, I have watched with great bitterness the debate that has developed around my name and the possibility of taking on the role of head coach of the Italian national team. Throughout my career, first as a player and now as a coach, I have always carried out my work in full compliance with the laws of the countries where I have worked and with the contracts I have signed.“
Despite Pirlo having the backing of the new Italian football federation technical director, Paolo Maldini, the controversy has created significant friction among politicians. “After yet another defeat and another missed World Cup qualification, Italian football desperately needed a cultural, ethical and managerial revolution. The choice of Andrea Pirlo goes in the exact opposite direction,” said Pina Picierno, a vice-president of the European parliament, on social media.
Ignazio La Russa, the head of the Senate and a member of the prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s party, expressed doubts over Pirlo’s possible appointment. On Saturday, La Russa said: “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, the leader of the Azione party, was even more direct in his criticism. “Anyone who is or has been promoting Russia after 2022 should not hold national office,” he said.
The FIGC turned to Pirlo – who had been prepared to leave his job as coach of Dubai United – after failing to land Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti in their search for a successor to Gennaro Gattuso, who left his post by mutual consent in April after Italy failed to qualify for a third World Cup in succession.
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The former Italy coaches Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte are now being discussed for the job.
