Russian Ambassador to Italy backs Pirlo, slams 'pseudo-democratic' system

Published Jul 27, 09:53 AM UTC

Andrea Pirlo has publicly stated he will not coach the Italian national team following controversy over his endorsement of Russian betting company Fonbet. In response, the Russian Ambassador to Italy issued an open letter expressing support for Pirlo, praising his contributions to world sports and criticizing what he called a 'pseudo-democratic' system in Italy that rejects meritorious figures. The ambassador drew parallels to the exclusion of Russian athletes and artists in recent years. The letter acknowledged that Pirlo's potential future role as Italy coach could make the team a formidable opponent for Russia.