Sky Italia cut ties with Paolo di Canio after tattoo honouring Benito Mussolini
Sky Sports Italia pundit, Paolo di Canio has been axed from his role as a pundit after the former West Ham United player showed his Fascist 'Dux' tattoo on air.
Di Canio, who had his own weekly programme on Sky Italia, appeared on Sunday’s programme and displayed the 'Dux' tattoo on-air, and has created a huge controversy on social media.
Italy's leader in World War Two, Benito Mussolini, was referred to in Italy as Il Duce, and was notoriously known for forming an alliance with Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler. In his book, Paolo Di Canio: The Autobiography by Gabriel Marcotti, the Italian even praised Mussolini as "basically a very principled, ethical individual" who was "deeply misunderstood".
Di Canio who was last seen in the Premier League as Sunderland manager, has been working as a pundit in his homeland and has been earning plaudits for his analysis.
As a result of his latest actions, Sky Sports Italia released a statement through their Vice President, Jacques Raynaud, which announced the sacking of Di Canio. The media executive put out an apology which said, “We committed an error and apologise to all those who were offended. After a long conversation (with Di Canio) we have decided to suspend (contacts)”.
There has been no comment from Di Canio at this point of time.
Di Canio has been in hot water for his political affiliations earlier as well, but the Italian has not learnt from his mistakes and seems to always be at the centre of controversy.
Back in 2005, during his time in the Serie A, Di Canio made a Fascist salute towards Lazio supporters and was reprimanded by the league and handed a one-match ban.
Di Canio began his career in the Serie A and played for clubs such as Lazio, Juventus, Napoli and A.C. Milan, before a brief spell with the Scottish club Celtic. He is widely known in English football for his spell at West Ham United, where he sparkled on the football pitch and was also awarded player of the season for the year 2000.
Having courted controversy as a player, especially the eleven match ban that he received for pushing a referee, he entered into football management in the year 2011 with Swindon Town.
He was later appointed by Sunderland as their manager in the year 2013 with whom he lasted only 13 games before he was sacked.