By Eleanor Harding PUBLISHED: 19:34 EST, 31 March 2013 | UPDATED: 03:26 EST, 2 April 2013 Paolo Di Canio stepped up his row with David Miliband yesterday by calling his accusers ‘stupid and ridiculous’. The new Sunderland manager spoke out after the former foreign secretary quit his role at the football club because of the Italian’s ‘past political statements’. Di Canio has been accused of fascist sympathies and of giving an open-handed salute to crowds during a match. New manager: Paolo Di Canio pictured outside the Sunderland stadium in a brief appearance this morning David Miliband, right, seen in the stands at the Stadium of Light for Saturday's game against Manchester United, resigned his Sunderland directorship yesterday after the appointment of Paolo Di Canio
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Di Canio was once fined by Fifa for making fascist salute to Lazio fans
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Black Cats appoint former Swindon boss to replace Martin O'Neill
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Campaigners call for Di Canio to repudiate past fascist sympathies
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Fans warn Italian to keep extreme political views out of professional life
In a statement on his website, Mr @placeholder said: 'I wish Sunderland AFC all the success in the future.