British police have warned that any "fascist salutes" by Newcastle fans aimed at Paolo Di Canio will "not be taken as a joke".

The Magpies face Di Canio's Sunderland in a high-stakes North-East derby on Sunday.

Di Canio's early days in the Black Cats job have been dogged by accusations of fascist leanings.

However the Sunderland manager did deny that he was a racist or a fascist last week.