Paolo Maldini has quit as technical director of the Italian Football Federation after Andrea Pirlo was not appointed head coach.

The federation’s president, Giovanni Malago, opted not to appoint Pirlo due to his commercial ties to a Russian betting company.

Pirlo had emerged as the leading candidate to succeed Gennaro Gattuso after former Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola turned down the post.

The AC Milan icon, who was part of the last Azzurri side to lift the World Cup as a player in 2006, had strong support from the newly-appointed Maldini and his adviser Leonardo.

But the fallout from Pirlo’s role as a global ambassador for Russia’s largest bookmaker, Fonbet, led to political resistance.

And, according to Sky Italy, the decision not to name the Italy legend as boss has led to Maldini and Leonardo stepping down.