Paolo Di Canio - when sport and politics collide
Yesterday's press conference at Sunderland's Academy of Light training base was illuminating in every way but one.
Yesterday's press conference at Sunderland's Academy of Light training base was illuminating in every way but one.
Sunderland travel to Norwich in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday
Sunderland have signed Scotland international James McFadden on a short-term deal
The Durham Miners Association says it hopes it's banner will remain at the Stadium of Light now that the new Sunderland Manager Paolo Di Canio has said he is not a fascist.
The group had threatened to remove the banner after Di Canio's appointment.
The North East-based campaign organisation 'Show Racism The Red Card' says it accepts at face value the statement by Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio, in which he denies being a fascist, and now want to draw a line under the issue.
Sunderland's new manager Paolo Di Canio released a statement clarifying his political views after four days of speculation.
Watch Lucy Taylor's full report below.
Durham Miners tell me they are a "lot happier now the club have stopped dithering" over the Paolo Di Canio fascism issue and said someone from Sunderland will visit them tomorrow.
They said their banner, which they had demanded to be removed from the Stadium of Light, can stay put.
The club's links to the coal pits goes back to 1936 when the local miners' association sent men to fight against fascists in the Spanish civil war.
Read: Paolo Di Canio - when sport and politics collide.
Read: Paolo Di Canio says he does 'not support the ideology of fascism'.
Sunderland's new manager Paolo Di Canio is believed to have attended the funeral of an Italian fascist linked to a terrorist bombing that killed 85 people.
Pictures appear to show the Italian paying his respects three years ago to Paolo Signorelli, who was jailed for eight years after the Bologna train station attack in 1980.
Signorelli was later acquitted on appeal due to insufficient evidence but was found guilty of being part of an "armed band" and a "subversion against democracy", The Sun reports.
He had been a member of the Italian Socialist Movement which emerged after the collapse of Benito Mussolini's Fascist party.
Di Canio released a statement today saying he is "not a racist" and does "not support the fascist ideology."
Read: Paolo Di Canio - when sport and politics collide
Watch: Di Canio dodges ITV News' question on fascist beliefs
Sunderland's new manager Paolo Di Canio has taken his first training session at the club since his appointment on Wednesday.
The session happened before the Italian released a statement saying he was "not a racist" and did "not support the ideology of fascism."
Read: Paolo Di Canio - when sport and politics collide.
Watch: Di Canio dodges ITV News' question on fascist beliefs.
Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has released a statement saying that he has been "deeply hurt by the attacks on the football club."
– Paolo Di Canio - Sunderland Manager“This is a historic, proud and ethical club and to read and hear some of the vicious and personal accusations is painful. I am an honest man, my values and principles come from my family and my upbringing.
"I feel that I should not have to continually justify myself to people who do not understand this, however I will say one thing only - I am not the man that some people like to portray.
“I am not political, I do not affiliate myself to any organisation, I am not a racist and I do not support the ideology of fascism. I respect everyone.”
Sunderland's new manager Paolo Di Canio has released a statement on the club's official website where he says "I am not a racist and I do not support the ideology of fascism."
I have clearly stated that I do not wish to speak about matters other than football, however, I have been deeply hurt by the attacks on the football club.
This is a historic, proud and ethical club and to read and hear some of the vicious and personal accusations is painful. I am an honest man, my values and principles come from my family and my upbringing.
– Paolo Di Canio statementI feel that I should not have to continually justify myself to people who do not understand this, however I will say one thing only - I am not the man that some people like to portray.
I am not political, I do not affiliate myself to any organisation, I am not a racist and I do not support the ideology of fascism. I respect everyone.
I am a football man and this and my family are my focus. Now I will speak only of football.
The Sun has published a photo of new Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio allegedly at the funeral of an Italian fascist.
The Italian football star reportedly attended the service for extremest Paolo Signorelli in Rome three years ago.
Signorelli had spent eight years in prison after being linked to a terrorist bomb attack which killed 85 people in 1980.
Yesterday, Di Canio refused to answer ITV News' question on whether he is a fascist and blasted the controversy surrounding his appointment as "ridiculous and pathetic".
Watch Sunderland players training with their new manager Paolo Di Canio: