Italy rules out US envoy's suggestion of replacing Iran at World Cup

Italy’s government has ruled out any suggestion that the country could replace Iran at this summer’s World Cup due to the war in the Middle East, Sky News reports.

Italian sports minister Andrea Abodi said it would not be appropriate for the “Azzurri” to replace the Iranian team, telling Sky News that “qualification is done on the pitch”.

His comment came in response to US special envoy Paolo Zampolli saying he had asked world football’s governing body FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the World Cup.

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