Andrea Pirlo has withdrawn his name from consideration for the Italian national football team coaching position, citing controversy over his ties to a Russian betting firm. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) had not formally confirmed Pirlo's appointment, but it was widely expected.
Over the weekend, several Italian politicians voiced criticism of the FIGC's choice, highlighting Pirlo's role as a global ambassador for Russia's Fonbet, a position he assumed in October. The betting company has sponsored sporting events involving veterans of the conflict in Ukraine and has organized events in Russia attended by Pirlo alongside pro-Kremlin figures.
"Anyone who is or has been promoting Russia after 2022 should not hold national office," stated Carlo Calenda of the centrist Azione party. Pina Picierno, a vice-president of the European Parliament, argued that the choice of Pirlo "goes in the exact opposite direction" of the cultural and ethical revolution Italian football needs.
Pirlo, a celebrated former midfielder for Internazionale, Juventus, AC Milan, and the Italian national team, addressed the controversy in an Instagram post. He expressed bitterness over the debate surrounding his name and clarified that any professional collaboration for United FC in Dubai was solely commercial and sporting, denying any political meaning or personal endorsement of beliefs he does not hold.
Scrutiny of Pirlo's connections to Fonbet and Russia intensified in the spring when he attended a Fonbet event in Moscow. The event included former teammate Marco Materazzi signing autographs and a performance by pro-Kremlin singer Shaman, who has publicly supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was disqualified from the Winter Olympics for his helmet design depicting athletes killed in the war, criticized Pirlo's participation, noting the event occurred on the same day as a major Russian attack on Ukraine.
Heraskevych also pointed to Pirlo appearing alongside Russian footballer Artem Dzyuba, who posted on social media expressing pride in being Russian following the war's commencement. "It's sad to see childhood legends turn into moral bankrupts," Heraskevych commented.
The Russian ambassador in Rome, Aleksey Paramonov, offered support to Pirlo, calling it "saddening" that the former player was being ostracized in his home country despite his contributions to global sport and Italy's international image.
This controversy adds to the disarray within the FIGC, which has been undergoing significant soul-searching after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup earlier this year. The team's penalty shootout loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina in April led to the resignation of coach Gennaro Gattuso and a reshuffle of FIGC leadership.
Paolo Maldini, the FIGC's technical director who took office on July 11, is reportedly facing pressure, with Italian media suggesting he may resign due to the fallout from Pirlo's withdrawn candidacy. Maldini and his advisor, Leonardo, were tasked with finding a new head coach to guide Italy through the upcoming Nations League group stage and the qualification campaign for Euro 2028.
Prior to Pirlo, the FIGC had approached Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti without success. Other names reportedly being considered include Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini, who previously led Italy to Euro 2020 glory before the World Cup qualification failure and subsequently left to coach in Saudi Arabia.