Paolo Di Canio this afternoon dismissed the controversy over his Right-wing views as "stupid" as the row continued to rage over his appointment at Sunderland.

The Italian, who makes no secret of his fascist views, said he was not a racist and dismissed the controversy as "stupid and ridiculous".

And Sunderland club officials appeared to criticise former foreign secretary David Miliband, who resigned as vice-chairman last night, for turning Di Canio's appointment into a "political circus".

In a statement released today by the club, Di Canio said: ‘‘I don’t have a problem with anyone. I don’t know why I have to keep repeating my story, to be defending myself on something that doesn’t belong to me every time I change clubs. Talk about racism? That is absolutely stupid, stupid and ridiculous.’’ Sunderland’s chief executive officer Margaret Byrne added in the same statement: ‘‘Sunderland AFC is a traditional football club, with a rich and proud history. It has a strong ethos and ethics and that has not changed in any shape or form.

‘‘Naturally it’s been very disappointing to read some of the reaction to Paolo’s appointment in the last 24 hours. Anyone who has met Paolo and spoken with him personally, as we did in depth before making this appointment, will know that he is an honest man, a man of principle and a driven, determined and passionate individual.

‘‘To accuse him now, as some have done, of being a racist or having fascist sympathies, is insulting not only to him but to the integrity of this football club.

‘‘Paolo has spoken emotively and at length in order to clarify some of the misconceptions that surround him and historical comments and actions attributed to him in the past.

‘‘My role and that of the board is to act in the best interests of this club at all times and in appointing Paolo Di Canio we feel we have done just that. It is disappointing that some people are trying to turn the appointment of a head coach into a political circus.

‘‘We are a football club and now want to allow Paolo and the team to focus on the rest of the season.’’ Sunderland dismissed O’Neill on Saturday evening following the club’s 1-0 home defeat against league leaders Manchester United.

That result left the Black Cats without a win in eight games and just a point clear of the relegation zone.

With seven games remaining, Di Canio faces a fight to keep Sunderland in the top flight, particularly with top scorer Steven Fletcher out for the remainder of the season with an ankle ligament injury.