Italian football federation pauses Andrea Pirlo head coach talks over Russian ties
Italian national team head coach negotiations for Andrea Pirlo have stalled following controversy over his commercial ties to a Russian bookmaker.
Negotiations to appoint former midfielder Andrea Pirlo as head coach of the Italian national football team have encountered a sudden delay following scrutiny over his commercial ties to Russia.
Pirlo has served as a global ambassador for a Russian betting company since last October and visited Moscow in May. The relationship has triggered political backlash in Italy, with politicians calling on him to step aside from consideration for national roles.
The Italian Football Federation and Italian National Olympic Committee President Giovanni Malagò are currently assessing whether the sponsorship makes Pirlo's appointment inappropriate. Neither Pirlo nor the federation has issued an official decision regarding the negotiations.
Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Gazzetta dello Sport.