Alex Morgan has caused controversy this week with her tea-drinking celebration
#5 Paolo Di Canio
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Paolo Di Canio defended his use of a fascist salute in 2005 following a goal for Lazio
When Nicolas Anelka decided to perform a gesture associated with the Far Right, at least he had the temerity to deny that he was attempting to push any kind of political agenda with his actions.
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That wasn’t the case when it came to legendary Italian striker Paolo Di Canio, though. Di Canio managed to offend practically the whole football world in 2005 when he decided to raise his right arm in a salute to the fans of his side Lazio on multiple occasions.
To take things even further, Di Canio defended his use of the salute by outright stating that while he wasn’t a racist, he was a proud fascist. He claimed his use of the salute was simply his way of showing pride in his people, although that was part of the issue; Di Canio had grown up as a fan of Lazio and was involved with their ‘ultra’ fans, and had also defended Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in his autobiography.
Despite Lazio fans largely embracing the gesture, Di Canio was hit with a one-match ban for his behavior and was also fined €7000 – but perhaps he should’ve been thankful that he didn’t find himself in far more trouble – especially when you take into account that in Italy, like in Germany, encouraging fascism is a recognized crime.
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About the author
Scott Newman
Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.
Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.
Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.
His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.
Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.