The Italian Football Federation blocked Andrea Pirlo’s appointment as national team coach because of his association with a Russian betting company, according to the report. Pirlo said his work abroad complied with local laws and contracts and described the relationship as commercial and sporting, not political.
The decision shows how a candidate’s commercial relationship with a betting company affected a federation coaching appointment.
The day’s most important stories, free. One email a day.
Reportedly, FIGC president Giovanni Malagò called for clear alternatives to the betting-advertising ban. He addressed the issue at a Senate culture committee hearing on legislation supporting football.
Codacons filed a complaint with AGCOM over Andrea Pirlo's sponsorship of a Russian betting company. The association asked the communications authority to impose the sanctions available under current rules on prohibited gambling and betting advertising against the coach and other parties involved.
Raffaele Palmieri, a retail business consultant, said the Andrea Pirlo-Fonbet sponsorship row shows the public no longer distinguishes Italy's legal betting market from the illegal one. Palmieri said Fonbet was freely accessible in Italy until the case drew attention, and that authorities should also target demand for illegal sites.
Codacons announced it has filed a complaint with AGCOM, Italy's communications authority, seeking an investigation into Andrea Pirlo's position regarding the ban on gambling advertising. The consumer group also said it would appeal to the Lazio regional administrative court (TAR Lazio) if Pirlo is appointed Italy head coach.
FIGC president Giovanni Malagò said additional income from football betting could help support youth football in Italy, alongside tax relief. He said parliamentary amendments addressing the proposals were under consideration and that political support would be needed to advance them.