Paolo Di Canio axed as Sky Italia pundit after showing a tattoo honouring fascist dictator Benito Mussolini on air
Outraged viewers threatened to cancel subscriptions after spotting the former West Ham striker's 'dux' inking
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PAOLO DI CANIO has been suspended from his role as a Sky Italia pundit after showing a tattoo honouring Benito Mussolini on air.
The ex-West Ham striker revealed the inking of the work ‘dux’ during the channel’s Premier League coverage on Sunday.
The Latin word translates into English as ‘duke’ and was the title adopted by the fascist Italian dictator.
And Sky have moved to axe Di Canio after outraged viewers threatened to cancel their subscriptions on social media.
The broadcaster’s executive vice-president, Jacques Raynaud, said: “We made a mistake, we are sorry to all who were hurt.
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“After speaking at length to Di Canio, and despite his professionalism and his expertise regarding football, we have decided together to suspend the partnership.”
Di Canio, 48, has been questioned over his political views during his often-controversial career as a player, manager and pundit.
He was famously fined by Serie A side Lazio for making a fascist salute to a section of right-wing fans during a 2005 derby with Roma.
Di Canio insisted it was an old Roman salute, and claimed: “I am a fascist, not a racist.”
He refused to address his beliefs when he was appointed Sunderland manager in 2013 – causing David Miliband to resign from the club’s board.
Mussolini was head of the Italian national fascist part and the country’s prime minister from 1922 to 1943.
He sided with Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany against the allies during World War II and was executed by Italian communists when trying to flee the country in 1945.
The promotion and defence of fascism are crimes in Italy.