July 26 (Reuters) - Andrea Pirlo’s possible appointment as Italy head coach has hit political resistance over his commercial ties to a Russian betting company.
The 47-year-old World Cup winner had emerged as the leading candidate to succeed Gennaro Gattuso after former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reportedly turned down the position.
However, key figures in the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Italianparliamentarians are now weighing up the fallout from Pirlo’s role as a global ambassador for Russian bookmaker Fonbet.
The FIGC declined to comment whencontacted by Reuters but a source close to the matter said that Pirlo's connections to Russia were being evaluatedand that the matter was not closed.
Pirlo, currently managing United Arab Emirates Pro League side United FC in Dubai, signed an ambassadorship deal with Fonbet in October. Scrutiny intensified following his appearance alongside former Italy teammate Marco Materazzi at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium during an event organised by the bookmaker.
The visit prompted criticism, with commentators noting that the promotional event coincided with aerial attacks on Ukraine.
Pirlo defended his involvement, saying his presence was strictly non-political.
The controversy complicates the start of Giovanni Malago’s tenure as FIGC president, coming weeks after his election to lead the restructuring of Italian football following the national team’s third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup.
POLITICAL OPPOSITION
Despite Pirlo having the backing of newly appointed FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini, the controversy has created significant friction among politicians who have raised objections, saying that a commercial agreement with a Russian gambling operator is not compatiblewith the role of leading the national team.
"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," Pina Picierno, a vice-president of the European Parliament, said on social media.
Ignazio La Russa, the head of the Senate, a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’sparty and a prominent Inter Milan fan, expressed doubts over the potential appointment.
"I respect Malago, (federation advisor) Leonardo and Maldini, in that order, and so I didn't immediately make any statements about Pirlo as Italy coach, also out of respect for them," La Russa told news agency ANSA on Saturday. "I am speaking only because you called me: God help us.
"Of course I am an Italy fan and Pirlo was a great champion, but as a coach, it is a leap in the dark," he added.
Carlo Calenda, leader of the centrist Azione party, was even more direct in his criticism.
"Anyone who is or has been promoting Russia after 2022 should not hold national office," Calenda said.
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk, Alvise Armellini in Rome, additional reporting by Elvira Pollina; editing by Clare Fallon)
