IN his first press conference as Sunderland's new manager, Paolo Di Canio fielded questions from the press on statements made to Italian news agency Ansa in 2005 in which he claimed to be a fascist. Here is the full transcript from that press conference:

Q: A statement was put out yesterday, but what that statement didn’t include was a clear and simple answer to a clear, simple question. Are you a fascist?

A: "I don’t have to answer this any more. I can’t state every three weeks or three months. So 21 months ago, some of you – not you in here – picked up some lines from a long interview.

“I am at a football club. If I was working in the Houses of Parliament then I would answer a political question, but I’m probably never going to get there. I only want to talk about football.

“This story has to finish. Paolo Di Canio is 45 years of age and his life speaks for him.

Q: It’s a yes-no question

Press Officer: "I think we’ve answered that."

Q: He hasn’t answered it, that’s the key

Press Officer: He’s answered it as far as he wishes to, and as far as we want to. So let’s move on to football.

Q: North East football has worked really hard over the last three decades to combat racism…

A: “You are not offending me, but you are offending my family. I do not permit anyone to offend the values I have received from my parents.

“If you want to talk about football then we can start to work. You in your area, me in my area.”

Q: But Paolo, you did use the word fascist and people are wondering why you used that word.

A: “I answer only football questions.”

Q: Does that not make the issue worse because you are not clarifying it?

A: "I only answer football questions. I have clarified it many times in the past".

Q: PR-wise, that just makes it worse because it’s not addressing….

Press Officer: "Kindly do not tell me how to do my job. Paolo has answered the question as much as he wishes to, we issued a statement yesterday."

The Northern Echo:

Q: Would Paolo like to meet some of the fans who are saying that they don’t want to come to matches while you are manager. Would you like to sit down with them?

A: “Not for one reason, because it’s happened at Swindon. Once they saw Paolo Di Canio and discovered Paolo Di Canio, they were there with their children every day. Every few weeks we organised a meeting with the children and they were really enthusiastic.

“They were asking for pictures because they discovered Paolo Di Canio and the values he has got.

“Once I have confirmed and convinced people, they will stay in the queue and buy a ticket for Sunderland because they will see how I work and what kind of person I am.

“So I don’t have to answer that question any more. So once again I want to repeat to people who are talking about this, they offend my parents and I don’t give any chances to anyone to offend my parents.

“Not Paolo Di Canio. If I were alone, without my family previously and my daughters now, I would answer every single question, I would say a few words – some of the might be bad words – I have to be honest with you. But now the story has to finish.

“Paolo Di Canio, in 45 years, never had a problem in his life with anyone. There is not one story about Paolo Di Canio, that has to be clear. What counts for you in life? The word or fact?

Q: Why use the word fascist?

A: "Word or fact? What counts for you? Okay, that has to be clear".

Q: Why did you use the word fascist, though?

A: "This has to be clear.”

Q: Why did you use the word fascist then?

Press Officer: We are moving on…

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