Soccer: Fair-play winner Di Canio faces inquiry

West Ham United's Italian star, Paolo Di Canio, said yesterday that he had nothing to fear from a police inquiry into an alleged incident in the players' tunnel during his side's English premier league soccer clash with Leicester City last weekend.

Reports in Italy have said police were investigating a match steward's complaint into Di Canio's behaviour during the match. Di Canio has denied any wrongdoing and denies suggestions of any incident in the players' tunnel.

"With some of my team-mates I went to celebrate in front of our fans. A steward tried to keep us away, striking me and my team-mates several times ... If this gentleman has indeed made a complaint about me, I can only think it is to gain publicity."

Di Canio was given a fair-play award by world governing body Fifa for sacrificing a chance to score a goal against Everton to allow an injured goalkeeper to be treated.

But he previously served a long ban for pushing a referee to the ground during a match for his former club, Sheffield Wednesday.