Paolo Di Canio: West Ham legend returns to Sky Sport Italia after controversy over ‘fascist’ tattoo
Ex-West Ham star and one-time Sunderland boss is back as a pundit following storm over 'tribute' to dictator Mussolini
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PAOLO DI CANIO is back on Sky Sports Italia - four months after his 'fascist' tattoo got him thrown off it.
The former West Ham hero and Sunderland manager angered thousands of viewers with an arm tattoo seemingly honouring Italian dictator and Hitler ally Mussolini.
Di Canio, 48, has denied being an extremist after past controversies but in 2005 he told Italian news agency Ansa: “I am a fascist, not a racist.”
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And in September 2016 he went on TV in a short-sleeved T-shirt, enabling "Dux" - Mussolini's nickname - to be seen in a large tattoo lower down his left arm.
Sky Sport Italia suspended Di Canio after many complaints, including threats to cancel subscriptions.
Jacques Raynaud, executive vice president of sports channels and advertising sales at Sky Italia, said at the time: “We made a mistake. We apologise to all those we have offended the sensibilities.
"After talking at length with Di Canio, despite his professionalism and football expertise, together we decided to suspend his collaboration.”
But now Di Canio is back, partly due to a charismatic appeal developed in playing spells with Lazio, Juventus and Celtic.
Di Canio has been a particularly contentious figure since 2005 when he gave two straight-arm salute to Lazio fans.
And his appointment as Sunderland chief in 2013 forced Black Cats director David Miliband — brother of then-Labour leader Ed - to step down.
