Paolo di Canio has been axed by television station Sky Sports Italia for revealing a tattoo in honour of Benito Mussolini.
Viewers rushed to complain when the tattoo with DUX, a reference to the former Italian fascist leader, was revealed during a recent programme.
Di Canio has long been associated with extreme right wing politics and been involved in a number of incidents down the years.
A spokesman for Sky Sports Italia Jacques Raynaud said: “We made a mistake. We apologise to all those we’ve offended.
“After talking at length with Paolo, despite his professionalism and exper- tise, we decided to suspend his collaboration.”
In Italy defending fascism is a crime with di Canio never far from controversy, after scoring for Lazio is 2005 he celebrated with a one arm salute that outraged many.
During his television appearances the 48-year-old normally appeared wearing a suit, shirt and tie but at the weekend he worse a t-shirt showing the offensive DUX tattoo.
Since being sacked by Sunderland in 2013 after a 13 match stint di Canio has been unable to find another job in the game.
Di Canio had one stormy season with Celtic under Tommy Burns that ended in controversy when he was ‘traded’ with Regi Blinker to Sheffield Wednesday.
He left the Yorkshire club for West Ham where he is still regarded as a hero and one of the best entertainers that the club has ever had.