Pirlo out of Italy football top job after backlash over Russian betting firm links

Pina Picierno, a vice-president of the European Parliament, said at the weekend that Italian football "desperately needed a cultural, ethical and managerial revolution" but that the choice of Pirlo "goes in the exact opposite direction". In contrast, Pirlo was offered support by the Russian ambassador in Rome, Aleksey Paramonov, who said that it was "saddening" to note that, "despite [Pirlo's] extraordinary contribution to world sport and to Italy's image around the world, in your own country, you are now being ostracized".Scrutiny of Pirlo's ties to Fonbet and Russia intensified last spring, when he took part in a Fonbet event held in Moscow, which saw him and former teammate Marco Materazzi sign autographs at Luzhniki Stadium. Nationalist pro-Kremlin pop star Shaman, who has repeatedly expressed his support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, also performed at the event. At the time, Ukrainian skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych - who was disqualified from the Winter Olympics over his helmet depicting fellow athletes killed in the war - noted the Luzhniki event had taken place on the same day as a large Russian attack on Ukraine. Heraskevych also criticised Pirlo for appearing next to Russian footballer Artem Dzyuba, who in the wake of the war in Ukraine posted on social media that he was "proud to be Russian". "It's sad to see childhood legends turn into moral bankrupts," Heraskevych said. The debate now risks engulfing new FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini, who has only been in post since 11 July and who Italian media say may resign over Pirlo's failed appointment.