SEEMS THAT DI CANIO CHOSE THE RIGHT CLUB

Last updated : 09 January 2005 By Editor

From The Observer:

Paolo Di Canio has been condemned in Italy for giving a fascist-style salute to Lazio fans after his side's victory in last week's Rome derby.

Politicians of all hues criticised the gesture made by the controversial former West Ham, Celtic, Charlton Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday forward, a self-confessed admirer of former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

Photographs show Di Canio making a stiff right-arm salute to the Lazio fans at the end of last Thursday's match when he ran underneath them at the North End of the Stadio Olimpico to celebrate the 3-1 win, in which he scored.

Centre-left politician Enzo Foschi said: 'That salute... gives legitimacy to fascism, a murderous and tyrannical ideology. I take my cap off to Di Canio the footballer, but Di Canio the fascist is a disgrace.'

Italy's Minister for EU Affairs, the conservative Rocco Buttiglione, said Di Canio's action 'brings back painful memories for many Italians. Sport should bring people together, but the symbols of that terrible civil war can only divide'.

Few accepted the player's denial that his action was political and insistence: 'I am a professional footballer and my celebrations had nothing to do with political behaviour of any kind.' In his autobiography the trouble-prone Italian said he was 'fascinated' by Mussolini, whom he described as 'deeply misunderstood' and 'basically a very principled, ethical individual'.

Only Alessandra Mussolini, the dictator's granddaughter and herself a far-right politician, appreciated Di Canio's action. 'How nice that Roman salute was. It delighted me so much,' she said. 'I shall write him a thank-you note.'