Embattled Russia coach Fabio Capello said he felt "offended" by criticism levelled at him by his former assistant Christian Panucci, who claimed he quit his post after not being paid.

Panucci, a former Italy international, claimed Tuesday that Capello had failed to stand up for him and other team staff when they quit their posts when their salaries from the Russian football federation failed to arrive.

But Capello, speaking as a pundit on Sky Sport Italia late on Tuesday, said he would not reply to Panucci's accusations.

"I feel offended. I don't intend to reply," said Capello.

Capello's future with 2018 World Cup hosts Russia, whom he has coached since 2012, appears to be hanging in the balance.

The federation said this month that it could no longer afford his wages, which, according to Capello, have not been paid for five months.

Capello last week refused to comment on speculation about his future with Russia and was not pressed on the subject in Tuesday's programme.

Panucci had told Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday that Capello "acted in a shameful way with me and with all the Italian staff."

He added: "I will tell him face-to-face the next time I see him. A great coach should defend his staff and he did not do that."

Russia crashed out of the World Cup at the first round stage last summer and Panucci said the Russian federation had failed to keep promises to renew his contract.

"I was working without a contract and then I said to myself 'that's enough!'"