Di Canio wins fair play award
Thursday, November 29, 2001
Article summary
West Ham United FC striker Paolo di Canio, who was once banned for pushing a referee, has won FIFA’s Fair Play Award for 2001.
Article body
West Ham United FC striker Paolo di Canio, once banned for pushing a referee to the ground, has won FIFA’s Fair Play Award for 2001.
'Good sportsmanship'
The Italian was given the award for "a special act of good sportsmanship" in West Ham’s game at Everton FC on 16 December last season. With Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard lying injured in the penalty area, Di Canio received a cross from Trevor Sinclair. Faced with a good scoring chance, Di Canio chose to catch the ball rather than go for goal. If Di Canio had scored, West Ham would probably have won 2-1 rather than drawn 1-1.
Instant hit
Di Canio, 33, joined West Ham in January 1999 from Sheffield Wednesday FC, where he was banned for eight matches after pushing referee Paul Alcock during a match against Arsenal FC in 1998. He was an instant hit at West Ham and in his first full campaign scored 16 goals in 30 matches. He was in trouble again though in January 2000, and received a fine from the Football Association for an insulting gesture in a match against Aston Villa FC.
Long career
The Rome-born forward has also played in Scotland with Celtic FC but spent most of his career in Italy, where he played for S.S. Lazio, Ternana Calcio, Juventus FC, SSC Napoli and Milan AC.
