Pirlo's contract with Russian betting house risks Italy coaching job

Andrea Pirlo's potential return to Italian football as the national team's coach faces significant hurdles due to his lucrative advertising agreement with Fonbet, a prominent Russian betting firm. Pirlo serves as a global ambassador for the company, which is reportedly backed by Russian magnate Sergey Lomakin, the owner of United FC, a second-division UAE club previously managed by Pirlo.

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normalized Putin's regime and that his appointment was a 'grave error,' as 'Italy is on the side of Ukraine, the European Union and international law.'

European media outlets have highlighted this sponsorship as a potential obstacle to Pirlo's appointment, a move that seemed highly probable after Pep Guardiola reportedly declined the position. Italian politicians have voiced strong opposition. Pina Picierno, Vice-President of the European Parliament, criticized the deal on social media, stating that Pirlo had "normalized" Putin's regime and that his potential appointment would be a "grave error," given Italy's support for Ukraine and international law.

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hopes that, if appointed national coach, he will resign as the image of Fonbet to 'end this scandal.'

Mauro Berrutto, the sports official for the progressive Democratic Party, expressed hope that Pirlo would renounce the Fonbet role if appointed, to "end this scandal." Carlo Calenda, leader of the centrist Action party, asserted that anyone promoting Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine should not hold public office. Italian media also recalled Pirlo's attendance at the Russian Cup final in Moscow in late May, alongside former player Marco Materazzi, for events organized by Fonbet, during a period of intense Russian bombardment of Kyiv. European clubs, including AC Milan, had previously severed ties with Fonbet due to its Russian connections.

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anyone who promotes or has promoted Russia after 2022, the year of the invasion of Ukraine, should not hold public office.