Di Canio involved in a hotel bust-up night before Southampton match

Sunderland manager looks on as the match progresses.

Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio, known for his over-the-top celebrations on the field, was involved in a tiff when a few apparent wedding guests stopped the elevator he was in to take a few pictures with the Italian and his head coach Fabrizio Piccareta while they were on the way to their bed for a much needed rest after a busy training session, at the club’s Solent Hotel and Spa in Whiteley the day before their 1-1 draw against their Premier League counterparts Southampton.

The Sunderland boss was kept up till 2 am in the morning for investigation and questioning on the matter when he called the authorities.

Di Canio complained that the three guests were inebriated and they didn’t think twice as they decided to verbally abuse him and his colleague, which left a 20-year old bystander from Southampton with a cut lip.The police maintained that they had spoken to three people involved and that two of them had run away after the match.

The police had arrived at 12.16 am and rigorously questioned the parties involved till 2 am. They made no arrest except warning the accused of consequences if their behaviour was repeated.

The Black Cats boss seemed unhinged by the previous night’s ordeal and looked his usual self on the sidelines as his team took an early lead through Emanuele Giacherini header in the third minute. Southampton’s Jose Fonte, later, equalised through James Ward-Prowse’s 88th minute free kick.