Andrea Pirlo is no longer under consideration for the role of Italy's national football team manager following concerns raised by Italian politicians regarding his sponsorship agreement with Russian betting firm Fonbet. The former AC Milan and Juventus star was reportedly close to agreeing to terms before the issue surfaced.
Paolo Maldini, the new technical director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and a former teammate of Pirlo, had supported his candidacy. However, the involvement of Pirlo with Fonbet, a company with ties to Russia amid its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, created a political complication. Some politicians argued that Pirlo should not hold such a position while endorsing a Russian entity, given Italy's stance in support of Ukraine.
Pirlo himself confirmed his withdrawal from contention via an Instagram post. He stated that his Fonbet deal was exclusively commercial and sports-related, stemming from his coaching role with Dubai United in the United Arab Emirates. He expressed disappointment that the situation had become politicized, asserting that the collaboration did not reflect any political beliefs on his part and was in full compliance with the laws and contracts of the countries where he has worked.
However, Sergey Lomakin, owner of Dubai United, refuted Pirlo's claim that the Fonbet involvement was involuntary, stating that the sponsorship was an integral part of Pirlo's deal. Adverts, endorsements, and sponsorship deals related to betting are prohibited in Italy.
Reports indicate that Maldini is furious with the FIGC's decision, made by president Giovanni Malago, and may consider resigning his technical director position. Pirlo was reportedly a third choice for the role, with Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola having previously declined offers. Former Italy managers Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte are now reportedly being discussed as potential candidates.