Sunderland defend appointment of new manager Paolo di Canio . The Italian has been in charge at the Stadium of Light since taking over from Steve McClaren last summer. A statement issued by Sunderland following Di Canio 's appointment declared that to suggest he held fascist or racist views was to question `` the integrity of the club '' . `` I 'm not in the Houses of Parliament , I 'm not a political person , I will only talk about football , '' says Di Canio . Di Canio 's views cost his former club Swindon a key sponsorship deal .
Sunderland defend appointment of new manager Paolo di Canio . The Italian has been in charge at the Stadium of Light since taking over from Steve McClaren last summer. `` I 'm not in the Houses of Parliament , I 'm not a political person , I will only talk about football , '' says Di Canio . Di Canio 's views cost his former club Swindon a key sponsorship deal .