The possible appointment of Andrea Pirlo as head coach of the Italian national team is in difficulty following controversy over his commercial contract with Fonbet, one of the leading Russian sports betting companies, for which the former midfielder has served as global ambassador since 2025.

Pirlo issued a statement clarifying that the collaboration with Fonbet arose within the scope of his professional activity in the United Arab Emirates and is of an exclusively commercial and sporting nature. The current coach of United FC Dubai stated that he has always respected the laws of the countries in which he has worked and the contracts he has signed, adding that attributing a political meaning to the collaboration means attributing to him convictions he has never expressed and that do not belong to him. Pirlo also thanked technical director Paolo Maldini and his advisor Leonardo for the esteem and trust shown, without mentioning federal president Giovanni Malagò.

According to sports press reports, Pirlo's appointment has moved further away and FIGC president Giovanni Malagò is reportedly exploring alternative paths. Among the names circulating for the head coach role are Giorgio Chiellini, currently indicated as the frontrunner, Antonio Conte, and Claudio Ranieri, the latter considered as technical director should Maldini and Leonardo step aside. Stefano Pioli and interim head coach Silvio Baldini have also been mentioned.

The Fonbet case has drawn attention due to the company's connections to the Russian economic world. According to Russian investigative journalism reports cited in the press, Fonbet founder Sergey Lomakin has been linked to figures in the Russian establishment and allegedly used offshore companies and football clubs for suspected international sanctions evasion. These aspects concern the company Fonbet and not directly Pirlo, who has reiterated the strictly commercial nature of his contractual relationship.