Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi denied suggestions that Paolo Di Canio was a fascist, saying the Lazio striker was simply an exhibitionist.

Di Canio was banned for one game on Monday and fined €10,000 for making a raised-arm, fascist-style salute in a Serie A match at the weekend.

His gesture has been widely condemned by politicians, players, fans and Jewish groups, but Berlusconi leapt to his defence on Tuesday saying the 37-year-old player was simply misunderstood.

"Di Canio is an exhibitionist. His salute didn't have any significance," Berlusconi told a group of foreign reporters. "He's a good lad," added the prime minister, who owns Serie A team Milan.

Sepp Blatter, president of soccer's governing body FIFA, said players making fascist salutes should be banned from the game for life.

Di Canio himself has defended his gesture, which he has made at at least three Serie A matches this year, saying it was not intended as a political statement and that he would continue to acknowledge his fans in whatever way he chooses.

Lazio fans are known for their hard-right sympathies. Di Canio's one-match ban ruled him out of Lazio's trip to Lecce yesterday.