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Andrea Pirlo is expected to be officially announced as the new coach of the Italian national team on Monday or Tuesday, while the details of the four-year contract with a salary of 1.5 million euros per season have already been agreed.
His candidacy has immediately sparked controversy, even though it has not yet been made official.
At the center of the debate is not his coaching career, but his collaboration with Fonbet, a Russian betting company, for which the former Italian midfielder serves as a global ambassador. Critics question whether a figure expected to represent Italy on the international stage should have promotional ties with a brand operating in Russia, at a time when the country remains under sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
According to reports, this collaboration is also related to the fact that Pirlo manages United FC in the United Arab Emirates, whose club is run by Sergey Lomakin, a businessman with significant interests in the Russian betting company.
The controversy intensified when Fonbet presented the Pirlo deal as proof that, despite Russia's international isolation, the company was still able to attract big names in world sports. The situation became even more sensitive after the Italian took part in the "Football Day" event in Moscow, at the height of the conflict in Ukraine.
His presence at this event was harshly criticized by various sports figures, including Ukrainian skeletonist Vladislav Heraskevič, who considered Pirlo's decision to participate in an activity organized by this company inappropriate.
However, it should be noted that Pirlo has not broken any law. As a professional, he has been free to sign sponsorship deals and manage his image. The debate is more about the ethical and institutional aspects of the role he is expected to take on.
If his appointment as head coach of the "Axurres" is made official, the issue is expected to be resolved automatically, as regulations will not allow the coach of the Italian national team to be simultaneously under contract with a betting company. As a result, Pirlo's collaboration with "Fonbet" will end upon taking up the new position.
For now, the discussion remains open: is the termination of the contract enough to end the controversy, or will the previous connection with the Russian company continue to accompany the figure of Andrea Pirlo even as Italy coach?
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