Leading contender for Italy's top soccer position steps out of the race

Pirlo was once the front-runner for the job until it emerged that he had connections with the gambling company mentioned earlier. In October 2025, he became an ambassador for this Russian sports betting brand, which has now clouded his chances of becoming the national head coach. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is facing significant backlash for considering him for the position, with critics highlighting his association with Fonbet. FIGC members Paolo Maldini and Leonardo have both stepped down amidst the controversy, while political condemnation continues to escalate. Politicians have strongly criticized the notion of individuals, who have promoted Russia following its full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine, holding public positions of any kind. Pirlo has also issued a statement, firmly stating that he has only ever acted within his role as a sports coach. After hearing last night that I am no longer a candidate for the Italian national team, I feel it is my duty to clarify some aspects, Pirlo remarked, adding:

He emphasized that all his relationships were purely commercial and related to sports, with no other implications. Although Pirlo insisted the matter wasn't political, his exclusion from the race led to a quick reaction from Aleksey Paramonov, the Russian ambassador to Rome. Paramonov called the treatment of the coach unfair and described it as ostracization. Pirlo had participated in a Fonbet event at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, attended by Shaman, a Russian performer recognized for his support of pro-war and pro-Kremlin views.