Paolo Di Canio sends letter to Jewish community to say he is not anti-Semitic
Ex-West Ham star was axed by Sky Italia for displaying tattoo related to fascist dictator Benito Mussolini
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PAOLO DI CANIO has sent a letter to a Jewish community leader in Italy following the storm over a fascist tattoo.
Former West Ham winger Di Canio was axed by Sky Italia in September after displaying the ink spelling Dux on his right arm.
Dux is a reference to deceased former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, who supported Nazi Germany in World War Two.
It means Duke in Latin, which was the name Mussolini - Il Duce - was known as.
Di Canio defended himself in an open letter to the President of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities, Neomi Di Segni.
The ex-Sunderland and Swindon coach insisted that he is neither racist or anti-Semitic and stated that the 'racial laws under Mussolini were a terrible shame in Italy's history".
He said: "I want to find a way to define once and for all this situation.
"I must first of all to my family, particularly to my daughters who cannot see their father and all that I have taught them, in this figure that is still portrayed as violent, racist and anti-Semitic. I never have been like this.
"I feel then having to go back to a topic that I thought I had made clear in the past: I did not want nothing to do with anti-Semitic ideas, racist, discriminatory, violent.
"I think, no ifs, or buts, that the racial laws desired by Mussolini were a terrible shame for the history of our country.
"An outrage which caused a great tragedy for thousands of Jews in Italy. This is my position convinced and determined."
Di Canio then revealed how he paid his respects to holocaust survivors, whom he met in Rome a couple of years ago.
He added: "A few years ago, I bowed my head in front of the pain of some survivors of Auschwitz I met during a meeting in Rome.
"Being a public figure, I feel I must give an account of this, so to contribute, as much as I can, to increasing the awareness of our young people to feelings of solidarity and respect, to unite and not to divide, against all forms of hate, anti-Semitism and racism."
Di Canio has courted controversy thoughout his career.
He was banned for giving Lazio fans a raised arm salute towards 'Ultra' supporters of the Rome club after beating Roma 3-1 in 2005.
He commented: "The times we live in require great attention to the words we use, the gestures we make and symbols that accompany our private and in public view.
"A sense of responsibility, in stemming any hatred, which weighs even more to those who turn to the general public and playing a specific role has a clear media recognition, and inevitably contributes to form the conscience and the views especially young people."