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U.S. President Donald Trump's special representative for global partnerships, Paolo Zampolli, continues to push for Italy to take Iran's place at the upcoming FIFA World Cup -Credit:Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
United States special representative for global partnerships, Paolo Zampolli, remains determined in his campaign for Iran's substitution at the FIFA World Cup with his homeland, Italy. The Italian-American acknowledges that the window for any eleventh-hour change by FIFA is closing, but maintains it is extremely challenging to have confidence that the Iranian squad will appear.
Zampolli, 56, states he secured U.S. President Donald Trump's backing when reaching out to FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding Italy taking Iran's place. Infantino, however, keeps asserting that Team Melli will participate.
Nevertheless, Zampolli characterizes FIFA's rules concerning replacement nations as inadequate. That, he explains, is the reason he contacted Infantino.
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Zampolli has claimed, 'FIFA regulations are flawed in the replacement of a team that doesn't show up' -Credit
aul Morigi/Getty ImagesIn an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Zampolli said: "With Trump's support, I contacted Infantino because FIFA regulations are flawed in the replacement of a team that doesn't show up.
"If Iran didn't participate in the World Cup, Italy - which has won it four times and is the highest-ranked of the excluded teams -would meet the right requirements."
Responding to Infantino's assertion that Iran will take part, Zampolli said: "OK, but the crux of the matter is understanding what the Iranians are thinking, and it's very hard to trust them. Now they say the team will come, but what about their following?"
Zampolli portrays their 'following' as "very unwelcome in the United States, given what's happening." He then added: "The game is on..."
Zampolli's proposal is far from universally embraced in Italy, as per The Mirror. Nevertheless, he believes public opinion would shift once the tournament got underway.
Speaking after being informed that Italy's potential inclusion was dividing the nation, he said: "I can understand that, but how do you think Italians would react if the national team played in the World Cup? Would they cheer like only we know how, or wouldn't they watch the games because we didn't qualify on the pitch?"
When pressed on whether he planned to lobby Infantino further, Zampolli responded: "I don't think it's necessary, even if time is running out. And last year I already convinced him to hold the World Cup draw at the Trump-Kennedy Centre."
The interviewer also raised the point that Infantino's Italian heritage places him in a delicate position. Zampolli, however, countered: "What if this could make things easier?"
Infantino has consistently maintained that Iran will feature in the World Cup, a stance the country has publicly echoed. Italy, meanwhile, appear to have no appetite for participation, with sports minister Andrea Abodi dismissing Zampolli's proposal as both impossible and inappropriate.
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