By Ollie Irish

Did they really just say that?

“I am a fascist, not a racist.”

Italian forward Paolo di Canio defends his infamous salutes (see above). And fails.

“There is a demon in their spirits, their spirits are ill. But God can help them through his church and anyone who doubts this can check the bible.”

Former Rangers defender Marvin Andrews on homosexuals.

“Newcastle girls are all dogs. England is full of them.”

Freddy Shepherd on women in his hometown.

“I hate the gays. There is no place for a gay in my team, and I could easily spot one if he tried to get in.”

Former Croatia coach Otto Baric on homosexuals.

“You and I have been physically given two hands and two legs and half-decent brains. Some people have not been born like that for a reason. The karma is working from another lifetime. I have nothing to hide about that. It is not only people with disabilities. What you sow, you have to reap.”

Ex-England boss Glenn Hoddle on karma.

“He is what is known in some schools as a f**king lazy thick n****r.”

‘Big’ Ron Atkinson airs his views on Marcel Desailly. The comment cost him his career as a pundit.

“What about jokes about my long chin? I mean, nigger is black – so we have jokes where we call them niggers because they’re black. Why should that be any more of an offence than someone calling me chinny?”

Jimmy Hill defends Big Ron’s racist comment.

“Berlin has everything. It is a cosmopolitan city with theatres and the people are open-minded. They are not as narrow-minded like the people in Nottingham. There are no theatres, no cinemas, hardly anything. All Nottingham has is Robin Hood – and he’s dead.”

Former Forest striker Bryan Roy does his bit for tourism.

“I hate gays, I really do. I think it’s fucking disgusting to hear them talk to each other as if they are girls. I can’t be in the same room as someone who’s gay. Look at them kissing each other – it’s sickening.”

Polish keeper Arek Onyszko, not a very nice man.

“There are teams where you have got players who, from a distance, look almost identical. And, of course, with more black players coming in to the game, they would not mind me saying that that can be very confusing.”

John Motson needs his eyes tested.