April 2, 2013

(JTA) — Britain’s Jewish former foreign secretary resigned from the board of a soccer club after the team appointed a coach who gave a Nazi-style salute at a game in Rome.

Italian Paolo Di Canio, who was appointed head coach of the Sunderland team on Sunday, is a self-described fascist and admirer of fascist leader Benito Mussolini.

David Miliband resigned Sunday as the vice chairman of the English soccer club.

“I wish Sunderland AFC all success in the future,” Miliband said. “However, in the light of the new manager’s past political statements, I think it right to step down.”

Miliband left politics in March to take a job in New York as head of the International Rescue Committee, an international humanitarian aid organization, Reuters reported.  His brother, Ed, is head of Britain’s Labor Party and in line to be the next prime minister. The Miliband brothers are the sons of Polish Jewish immigrants.
 

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