Pirlo Will Not Coach the Italian National Team Due to His Partnership with a Russian Bookmaker

Former Italian national team soccer player Andrea Pirlo has stated that he is no longer a candidate for the position of head coach of the national team. According to him, he learned of the withdrawal of his candidacy the day before.

According to media reports, the decision was made after Pirlo’s collaboration with the Russian betting company Fonbet drew public attention. In the fall of 2025, he became the brand’s global ambassador, and in May 2026, he visited Moscow to participate in the company’s events, including the Russian Cup final.

A number of European politicians stated that someone who collaborated with a Russian business after the start of a full-scale war should not lead the national team.

Pirlo himself denied any political undertones, emphasizing that his contract was purely commercial in nature and was signed while he was working in the UAE.

As a reminder, the Ukrainian 7-a-side soccer team won the European championship title for the first time in history. In the final match of the continental championship, the “blue-and-yellows” defeated the tournament hosts—the Italian team.

Oleksandr Usyk believes that British boxer Anthony Joshua will defeat Tyson Fury in their upcoming bout. The world champion shared his prediction following Joshua’s victory over Christian Prenga.