The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is going through a new institutional crisis after Paolo Maldini and Leonardo presented their resignation just ten days after taking over as technical director and advisor, respectively. The departure of both leaders occurred after the decision of the organization's president, Giovanni Malagò, to prevent the hiring of Andrea Pirlo as the new coach of the Italian team.

According to the information released by journalist Fabrizio Romano, Maldini and Leonardo considered that Pirlo was the only suitable candidate to lead the Azzurra's new sporting project. Since that possibility was ruled out, both chose to abandon their duties immediately.

The blockage of the operation came when Pirlo had already reached a verbal agreement to lead Italy until the 2030 World Cup. Meetings were even planned in Rome between representatives of the coach and the federation to advance the final details, in addition to the termination of his contract with Manchester United, a process that was finally suspended.

Pirlo's veto unleashed a crisis in the FIGC

According to Sky Sport 24, Malagò's refusal was related to Pirlo's business ties with a Russian sports betting company. The former midfielder served as a global ambassador for that platform, a relationship that arose during his time at United FC Dubai, whose owner is among the company's main shareholders.

In the midst of the international sanctions in force against Russia, different Italian political sectors pressured the federation to prevent the former soccer player from assuming the position, considering it incompatible for the national coach to maintain an active commercial relationship with a company of that origin.

Pirlo responded to the controversy through a statement published on his social networks. “Throughout my career, first as a player and now as a coach, I have always carried out my activities in strict compliance with the laws of the countries in which I have worked and the contracts I have signed,” he said.

The former Italian international also regretted the situation and rejected that his collaboration had a political background. “Attributing political meaning to this collaboration would imply attributing to me beliefs that I have never expressed and that are not mine,” he stated. Furthermore, he publicly thanked the support received by Maldini and Leonardo and concluded: "My love for Italy does not depend on a position. It is part of my history, of my identity, and it will always accompany me."

The situation leaves the FIGC forced to reorganize the search for a new coach. A meeting of the Federal Council is scheduled for Tuesday, July 28, in which it was initially expected to make Pirlo's appointment official. Now, according to sources close to the organization cited by Sky Sport 24, the priority will be to find an experienced technician to take on a project that is going through a delicate moment.

Among the names that appear again as possible alternatives are Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte. Previously Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti had also been evaluated, although those options did not prosper. Guardiola, according to Fabrizio Romano, rejected the proposal for family reasons.

The context increases pressure on the federation. Italy has failed to qualify for the last three editions of the World Cup and has not played in a World Cup since Brazil 2014, an unprecedented situation for a team that has four world titles.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports, Andrea Abodi, asked to “fix this bad image.” At the end of the meeting called by Malagò, several leaders claimed to have found out about the resignations through the media. Serie A president Ezio Maria Simonelli acknowledged that the decision did not surprise him and regretted Maldini's possible departure, while Giancarlo Abete, president of the National Fans League, noted that the resignations had not yet been formalized.

Malagò left the FIGC headquarters without making any statements, while different Italian media anticipated that any official communication would occur after the Federal Council meeting.

This news has been tken from authentic news syndicates and agencies and only the wordings has been changed keeping the menaing intact. We have not done personal research yet and do not guarantee the complete genuinity and request you to verify from other sources too.