Fascist Politics
Since a very early age Di Canio has been a self-proclaimed fascista and has been photographed and videotaped several times giving the controversial Roman salute to Lazio supporters while playing for Lazio.
He created controversy by twice using the gesture to salute Lazio fans, first in a match against arch-rivals A.S. Roma and then against A.S. Livorno Calcio, a club inclined to left-wing politics. Di Canio received a one match game ban after the second event and was fined €7,000, after which he was quoted as saying "I will always salute as I did because it gives me a sense of belonging to my people...I saluted my people with what for me is a sign of belonging to a group that holds true values, values of civility against the standardisation that this society imposes upon us." His salute has been featured on unofficial merchandise sold outside Stadio Olimpico after the ban. Di Canio has also expressed admiration for Mussolini and in his autobiography, praised Mussolini as "basically a very principled, ethical individual" who was "deeply misunderstood". On the day of his appointment as manager of Swindon Town, the GMB union terminated their financial backing of around £4,000 per season of the club due to Di Canio's fascist views.
Paolo di Canio however insists he is not racist and has supported anti-racism campaigns.
Read more about this topic: Paolo Di Canio
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