Football
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Marcello Lippi reluctantly turns down job as Italy technical director

Former Italy manager Marcello Lippi has turned down an offer from the Italian FA  (FIGC) to become the technical director of the national team following Euro 2016.

Lippi had been offered and had provisionally accepted a role which would have seen him oversee all of Italy's national teams from youth level to the senior squad, reporting to the new head coach Giampiero Ventura.

However, with a decision due on whether Lippi's son's job as a football agent constitutes as a conflict of interests on his part, Lippi has decided not to accept the FIGC's offer to avoid any unnecessary controversy.

"I've told the president on the phone this morning -- I'm leaving," Lippi told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I'm extremely disappointed, but I am leaving because I don't know what will happen and I don't like it."

No employee of the FIGC is allowed to work in the capacity of an agent, or be related to one, according to recently implemented rules.

Although those rules could yet be modified, Lippi says he does not want any controversy.

"From what I have heard, they are going to alter the rules, but I know what would happen -- my situation would be made an example of and I wouldn't accept that," he said.

"I want to safeguard the seriousness of my son who has been doing this job for over ten years and was doing it already when I won the World Cup."

The FIGC must now seek a new figure to oversee the national teams for when Antonio Conte steps down after the Euro 2016.

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