Italy should take over Iran’s place at the World Cup, says Trump envoy. Several Italian ministers reject the proposal.
High-class Italian politicians reject the proposal that Italy should replace Iran at this summer’s World Cup finals in North America.
The idea, which originates from Paolo Zampolli, the US special envoy for global partnerships, is inappropriate, says Sports Minister Andrea Abodi.
– You qualify on the field, says Abodi according to the Reuters news agency, while Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti calls the proposal “shameful”.
Luciano Buonfiglio, head of the Italian Olympic Committee, has also intervened in the debate.
– First of all, I don’t think it’s possible. Second, I would feel violated. To get to the WC you have to earn it, he says.
The special envoy Zampolli has stated to the Financial Times that he has requested the International Football Federation (FIFA) for the replacement.
He has both proposed it to Fifa president Gianni Infantino and US president Donald Trump.
– I was born in Italy, and it would be a dream to see the Italian national team at a tournament held in the USA, Zampolli told the newspaper.
Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup after a painful defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a playoff at the end of March.
The defeat sparked a storm of criticism in Italy, and the president of the Italian Football Federation ended up leaving his post.
The US and Israel attacked Iran in late February.
Later it was heard from the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, that Iran would boycott the USA, but not the World Cup finals in football.
Thus, there is no indication that Iran will withdraw or be excluded from the tournament.
The BBC writes on the basis of unnamed sources that Fifa has no plan to replace Iran with Italy.
Fifa has not directly commented on Zampolli’s proposal, but refers to an earlier statement by Infantino.
– The Iranian national team will come, that’s for sure, said Infantino.
The White House declined to comment on Paolo Zampolli’s proposal on Wednesday.
/ritzau/
