Andrea Pirlo Italy coach — Italian forward Andrea Pirlo has withdrawn from the competition to become the head coach of the national team after facing criticism for his relationship with a Russian betting firm. The former World Cup midfielder has now revealed on Monday he is out of the running, ending a swift change of fortune that saw it turn into a governance and reputational problem. Pirlo had come up high in the ranks for the part when Pep Guardiola turned down a chance to take over from Gattuso.
At first, his candidacy was seen to be fitting the profile of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) who wanted a big name to help find stability for the national team. But things heated up because Pirlo has been the face of Russian bookmaker Fonbet as a global ambassador, and he has created a controversy among Italian politicians and federation officials. The development also reflects the growing importance of compliance, ethics and the impression in the public eye in senior football appointments, from an institutional perspective.
The backlash had the effect of putting Pirlo’s possible signing on the chopping block, despite his technical abilities and international credentials. Pirlo responded to the situation head on in his social media, saying that he was informed of his exclusion from the process. He was dismayed at the public debate over his name, saying it had gone beyond the realm of sports to the reputational sphere.
It is part of a wider issue in football governance, where off-field connections can have significant consequences on the management of football. What the FIGC now needs to do is to find a candidate who suits the game plan, the institution as well as the public.
