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Italian football legend resigns after 16 days in FIGC role
🇫🇮 Finland /Sports

Italian football legend resigns after 16 days in FIGC role

From Helsingin Sanomat · () Finnish

Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Paolo Maldini and his advisor Leonardo resigned from their roles in the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) after only 16 days.
  • Their departure is linked to a chaotic search for a new head coach, as their preferred candidate Andrea Pirlo was disqualified due to ties with a Russian betting company.
  • Italy is still seeking a new coach after Gennaro Gattuso's exit, with previous attempts to recruit Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti unsuccessful.

Italian football legend Paolo Maldini has stepped down as technical director of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) just 16 days after his appointment, according to Sky Sports. His advisor, Leonardo, also resigned from his position.

We ask that palm oil be excluded

— Airlangga HartartoMinister Coordinator for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto confirmed that Indonesia had officially requested an exemption from additional import tariffs from the US.

The departures stem from a turbulent search for a new national team head coach. Maldini and Leonardo had backed Andrea Pirlo for the role, but his candidacy was derailed due to connections with a Russian betting company, Fonbet. Pirlo's role as an international ambassador for the company drew opposition within the FIGC and parliament, particularly in light of Russia's ongoing war.

Pirlo defended his association with Fonbet on Instagram, describing it as purely commercial and sporting. Meanwhile, Italy continues its search for a coach following Gennaro Gattuso's departure. Sky Sports reports that the federation had also approached Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti. Guardiola declined the offer, while Ancelotti has an existing contract with the Brazilian national team.

The issue of overcapacity is still under investigation, and we have answered all questions related to it.

— Airlangga HartartoMinister Coordinator for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto on the investigation into industrial overcapacity.

Pirlo currently coaches Dubai United in the UAE's top league. The club's chairman, Sergey Lomakin, has ties to the same betting company where Pirlo is involved. Pirlo is a celebrated figure in Italian football, known for his storied playing career with AC Milan, Juventus, and the Italian national team, having won a World Cup, two Champions League titles, and six Serie A championships.

The US government is expected to announce the results of the overcapacity investigation soon.

— Haryo LimansetoSpokesperson for the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Haryo Limanseto, on the expected timeline for the US investigation results.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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