Italy dismisses ‘offensive’ U.S. plan to gift Azzurri Iran’s World Cup spot

 ROME - Italian officials have dismissed the U.S.’ suggestion that Italy, which failed to qualify for the World Cup, should take Iran’s place in this year’s tournament, according to official sources.

 U.S. special envoy Paolo Zampolli made the unprecedented suggestion last week, telling the Financial Times that the Azzuri’s four World Cup trophies meant their inclusion in the partly U.S.-hosted tournament was justified.

 Despite still reeling from Italy’s shock disqualifying loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, however, Italian sports officials broadly rejected Zampolli's proposal.

 "I would feel offended" said Luciano Buonfiglio, the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, "you need to deserve to go to the World Cup."

 Sports Minister Andrea Abodi was equally blunt: "first of all, it's not possible. Secondly, it's not a good idea."

 The Iranian embassy in Rome also denounced his remarks on social meida. "Italy earned its soccer prowess on the field, not thanks to political maneuvers” it said, “the attempt to exclude Iran from the World Cup shows only the 'moral bankruptcy' of the United States, which fears even the presence of 11 young Iranians on the field of play."

 For the moment, Milanese-born Zampolli, 56, appears unfazed by the cold reception his proposal has received in his former home country.

 Zampolli assured Italian Rai on Thursday that there was still “more than a 50% chance of Italy going to the World Cup in America”, saying he would lobby FIFA chief Gianni Infantino this weekend when he is in Miami for the Formula 1 Grand Prix.

 In a separate development, Zampolli announced this week he was taking legal action against Rai3’s investigative TV programme Report.

 His lawsuit comes after Report aired an investigation detailing the ties between Zampolli, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, and Jeffrey Epstein, and included an exclusive audio recording allegedly of Zampolli claiming that he and Melania made a ‘pact’ shortly before Trump's first election.

 In the recording, the Trump acolyte claimed the Future First lady said "Paolo don't worry. You have our back, everything that happens, we will protect you."