Pirlo out of Italy coach race after scrutiny over Russian betting company links

Former Italy international Andrea Pirlo has withdrawn from contention for the national team's head coach position, citing criticism over his commercial links to a Russian betting company. Pirlo, a 47-year-old World Cup winner, had reportedly emerged as a frontrunner to succeed Gennaro Gattuso.

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After learning last night that I am no longer the candidate to lead the Italian national team, I believe it is my duty to clarify a few points.

However, Pirlo's candidacy faced significant scrutiny due to his role as a global ambassador for Fonbet, a Russian bookmaker. This association prompted objections from officials within the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and from Italian lawmakers, casting a shadow over his potential appointment.

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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.

Pirlo defended his involvement with Fonbet in an Instagram post, stating that the collaboration was purely commercial and sporting. He expressed bitterness over the debate surrounding his name, emphasizing his compliance with laws and contracts throughout his career. Pirlo, who currently manages United Arab Emirates Pro League side United FC in Dubai, signed the ambassadorial agreement with Fonbet in October.

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To assign a political meaning to that collaboration is to attribute to me beliefs that I have never expressed and that do not belong to me.

Scrutiny intensified after Pirlo appeared at an event organized by Fonbet in Moscow. Alexey Paramonov, Russia's ambassador to Italy, wrote a letter to Pirlo, expressing sadness that the former player faced ostracism in his own country, comparing it to the treatment of Russian athletes and artists in recent years. FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini is responsible for identifying the next coach to lead Italy's bid for the 2030 World Cup finals.

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It is saddening to see that, despite your extraordinary contribution to world sport and to Italy’s image abroad, in your own country you are now the subject of ostracism by an establishment that many describe as 'pseudo-democratic'; a fate that, moreover, has already befallen thousands of Russian athletes, conductors, musicians, artists, and film directors in recent years.