Paolo: I’m not racist

PAOLO DI CANIO has hit back at claims he is a racist.

Sunderland have faced a backlash from fans since appointing the controversial Italian last night.

MP David Miliband resigned from his role as vice-chairman because of Di Canio’s “past political statements”.

The new Black Cats boss was given a one-match ban while playing for Lazio in 2005 for making a raised-arm salute to a group of the club’s fans.

He reportedly defended his action by telling an Italian news agency: “I am a fascist, not a racist”.

And Di Canio, 44, described fascist Italian leader Benito Mussolini as “basically a very principled, ethical individual” in his autobiography.

But in a statement, the former West Ham star said: “Talk about racism? That is absolutely stupid, stupid and ridiculous. The people who know me can change that idea quickly.

“When I was in England my best friends were Trevor Sinclair and Chris Powell, the Charlton manager – they can tell you everything about my character.

“My life speaks for me. Of course it hurts me because people try to take your dignity and that is not fair.

“I believe in my pillars and I have values. What offends me more than anything is not because they touch me — they touch what my parents gave to me, the values they gave to me. This is not acceptable.

GESTURE ... Paolo Di Canio salutes Lazio supporters in 2005

“Something can happen many years ago but what counts is the facts.

“What I can say is that if someone is hurt, I am sorry. But this didn’t come from me, it came from a big story that people put out in a different way to what it was.

“I never have a problem in my past. I expressed an opinion in an interview many years ago.

“Some pieces were taken for media convenience. They took my expression in a very, very negative way – but it was a long conversation and a long interview.

“It was not fair. I know it is a part of my job to do interviews because I am well-known, but sometimes it suits their purpose to put big headlines and a big story.

“I don’t have a problem with anyone. I haven’t had a problem in the past and I don’t know why I have to keep repeating my story, to be defending myself on something that doesn’t belong to me every time I change clubs.

“I don’t want to talk about politics because it’s not my area. We are not in the Houses of Parliament, we are in a football club. I want to talk about sport.

“I want to talk about football, my players, the board and the fans.

“My first priority is my family and my daughters, that’s obvious, and secondly to have the responsibility for thousands of people.

“This is my priority and I want to be focused on this aspect. I don’t want to talk any more about politics — I am not a politics person.”

Sunderland CEO Margaret Byrne added: “Sunderland AFC is a traditional football club, with a rich and proud history.

“It has a strong ethos and ethics and that has not changed in any shape or form.

“Naturally it’s been very disappointing to read some of the reaction to Paolo’s appointment in the last 24 hours.

“Anyone who has met Paolo and spoken with him personally, as we did in depth before making this appointment, will know that he is an honest man, a man of principle and a driven, determined and passionate individual.

“To accuse him now, as some have done, of being a racist or having fascist sympathies, is insulting not only to him but to the integrity of this football club.

“Paolo has spoken emotively and at length in order to clarify some of the misconceptions that surround him and historical comments and actions attributed to him in the past.

“My role and that of the board is to act in the best interests of this club at all times and in appointing Paolo Di Canio we feel we have done just that.

“It is disappointing that some people are trying to turn the appointment of a head coach into a political circus.

“We are a football club and now want to allow Paolo and the team to focus on the rest of the season.”