Senior Italian politicians are rejecting the suggestion that Italy replace Iran at this summer's World Cup finals in North America.
The idea, which originated with Paolo Zampolli, the US special envoy for global partnerships, is inappropriate, says Sports Minister Andrea Abodi.
- You qualify on the field, Abodi said, according to Reuters, while Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti called the proposal "shameful".
Luciano Buonfiglio, head of the Italian Olympic Committee, has also weighed in on the debate.
- First, I don't think it's possible. Second, I would feel insulted. To get to the World Cup, you have to earn it, he says.
Special envoy Zampolli told the Financial Times that he had asked FIFA to replace him.
He had suggested it to both 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 US," 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 resigning.
The US and Israel attacked Iran at the end of February.
Later, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, said that Iran would boycott the US, but not the World Cup finals.
There is thus no indication that Iran will withdraw or be excluded from the tournament.
The BBC writes, based on unnamed sources, that Fifa has no plan to replace Iran with Italy.
Fifa has not directly commented on Zampolli's proposal, but refers to a previous statement from Infantino.
- The Iranian national team is coming, that's for sure, said Infantino.
The White House declined to comment on Paolo Zampolli's proposal on Wednesday.
/ritzau/
