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Unacceptable

Di Canio 'disgusted' by dropped Bardsley's casino stunt

The full-back was left out of today’s squad after being pictured lying in a pile of £50 notes.

Di Canio and Bardsley (file photo). Credit: Andrew Matthews/EMPICS Sport

SUNDERLAND BOSS PAOLO Di Canio says he is disgusted with Phil Bardsley after the defender was pictured on a casino floor in a pile of £50 notes.

A photo of the former Manchester United full-back covered in the wad of notes was published in The People newspaper this morning.

Bardsley was left out of the squad for today’s 1-0 defeat by Tottenham and after the game, Di Canio said he had let the club down.

“It was unacceptable, what happened during the week,” he told Sky. “Not just for Paolo Di Canio, that should be normal at any club.

I care about my club, and this is something you cannot see from professional people. In some ways, it disgusted me what I discovered. It was not acceptable for me.”

It was reported the image was taken during a night out to celebrate Wigan’s defeat at Arsenal on Tuesday night, a result which secured the Sunderland’s Premier League survival.

Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio recently revealed he had fined seven players in five days for indiscipline as he attempts to improve standards at a club that appeared to be heading for relegation until he replaced Martin O’Neill as manager in April.

And the Italian didn’t take Bardsley’s actions well, omitting him for the trip to White Hart Lane.

Matthew Kilgallon, who was also pictured on the night out in the casino, did not make the bench either.

Di Canio has spoken this week of his determination to bring more discipline to the Sunderland squad and threatened to cut the squad’s holiday short unless they performed with “dignity” in their final game of the season.

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