Andrea Pirlo defends Russian betting partnership as purely commercial and sporting | OneFootball

Andrea Pirlo has defended his ties to a major Russian betting company, saying the arrangement is purely commercial and sporting. Pirlo said in a post on Instagram on Sunday night that he also wanted to underline his love for Italy.

Not yet officially appointed as Italy head coach, the former midfielder has been criticised for serving as an ambassador for Fonbet, one of Russia’s biggest bookmakers. He said the collaboration began during his career in the United Arab Emirates and was exclusively commercial and sporting.

Pirlo argued that attaching political significance to the partnership amounts to attributing beliefs he has never expressed and does not hold. He added that a sporting choice had been swept into public debate and wrongly assigned meanings and intentions.

Pirlo, 47, is currently coaching United FC in Dubai. He has been chosen by Paolo Maldini, the FIGC technical director, and his adviser Leonardo to take charge of the Nazionale.

If the Pirlo option were rejected, Maldini could leave his post at the federation, only days after being appointed.

Source: L'Équipe