Italy's federation chief blames internal missteps after Pirlo saga

Giovanni Malagò, chairman of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), said Italy has made a "bad move" following the chaotic collapse of Andrea Pirlo's appointment as national team coach and stressed that a sweeping overhaul of the federation is now essential. He made the comment during a live interview with Sky Sport, linking the misstep directly to the recent saga.

When pressed about who was responsible for the blunder, Malagò replied, "You have to ask yourself who made the bad move," without naming anyone. Italian media interpreted the remark as a subtle reference to Paolo Maldini, who had recently taken over as technical director after the Pirlo episode.

The turmoil comes after Italy has been without a national team coach since the dismissal of Gennaro Gattuso. The vacancy has left the senior side in limbo and intensified scrutiny of the federation's hiring process.

Both Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola turned down the role, prompting the federation to turn to Pirlo. However, Pirlo's alleged links to a Russian gambling company triggered a line of criticism that ultimately led to the appointment being scrapped.

Sports minister Andrea Abodi also weighed in, describing the situation as a "bad move" by the Italian federation and echoing concerns about the organisation's decision‑making.

In a subsequent interview with Sky, Malagò shifted the conversation toward long‑term solutions. He said, "We must restore our credibility. We must reform our academy in terms of tactics and culture, so the national coach also plays an important role. It's a matter of laying the foundations and we have concrete ideas," highlighting the need for structural change.

The president of the FIGC added that the key to new Italian football success lies in a larger revision of the federation itself, underscoring that reforms extend beyond the coaching appointment and into the broader governance of the sport.