Di Canio has courted controversy since being appointed Sunderland coach because David Miliband resigned from the club in protest at his political views.
The Italian said: “I expressed an opinion in an interview many years ago. Some pieces were taken for media convenience. They took my expression in a very, very negative way – but it was a long conversation and a long interview. It was not fair. Sometimes it suits their purpose to put big headlines and a big story.”