Andrea Pirlo and Marco Materazzi appeared in Russia for Football Day celebrations at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, where they signed autographs and posed for selfies with Kremlin supporters. Pirlo, a former Juventus and Milan midfielder and current manager of United FC in Dubai, was photographed alongside Russian striker Artem Dzyuba on the day Moscow launched a major missile attack on Kyiv. The event included exhibition matches, autograph sessions, and appearances by former football stars, organized by Fonbet, a major Russian betting company. Pro-Kremlin artists performed, including Shaman, whose songs have become war anthems. Pirlo’s presence revived criticism tied to his Fonbet ambassador deal announced last October.
"Pirlo, one of the defining figures of Italian football and now manager of United FC in Dubai, was photographed on Sunday alongside the Russian striker Artem Dzyuba, during Football Day celebrations at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium. Shortly after the start of the full-scale invasion, Dzyuba, Russia's former captain, said he was proud to be Russian. The event featured exhibition matches, autograph sessions and appearances by former football stars and was organised by Fonbet, Russia's largest betting company."
"The presence of the Italian World Cup winners Andrea Pirlo and Marco Materazzi in Russia for a sports event has sparked outrage. The former players signed autographs and posed for selfies with Kremlin supporters on the day Moscow launched one of its most brutal missile attacks on Kyiv. Prominent pro-Kremlin artists performed throughout the day, including Yaroslav Dronov better known by his stage name Shaman whose songs have become unofficial anthems of the war."
"Pirlo's presence reignited criticism that first emerged last October, when he signed a deal with Fonbet as a global ambassador. Fonbet announced the partnership on Instagram, writing: We welcome to our team a World Cup champion and two-time Champions League winner. As a global ambassador, the Italian will represent Fonbet in Russia and international markets."
Read at www.theguardian.com
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