Just thought I`d take a risk here and open a semi political thread. How do you all feel about Di Canio's appointment at Sunderland ? Whilst recognizing that Italian Fascism and Nazism are different in their origins and ideologies - Di Canio still supports an ideology which, if in power, would stop all immigration to Italy - how can he then justify earning his money in another country ? Can he fit to a town with the strong left wing traditions of Sunderland - and is this not the ultimate in owners insulting the history and roots of the area in which they operate - certainly David Miliband and the Mineworkers unions in Durham Co. appear to think so. If he were at Watford I would have great problems with my club being managed by someone who does not believe in democracy as we know it, or multiculturalism, and has publically given a Nazi salute to Lazio Rome fans - a symbol of an ideology which my father fought against for 6 years. Does modern football know no sensitivity or morals ? Or do you think that a persons politics are not important in football ?
i can't disagree with you..and while it's strange that this didn't really become an issue until now, like you, i'd be very uncomfortable if he came anywhere near working at Watford FC. Since he has made no attempt at any time to deny (which is honest of him) his political idealogies, the whole thing seems wrong. But...should sport and politics mix? I honestly don't know where i stand on this, but i'm very relieved it doesn't affect our club.
Don't really know enough about the man or his background to offer a valid opinion. But - 1) A good few years ago, I stood on the same spot as Hitler did at the Nuremberg Rally and gave the same salute. That act didn't actually mean that I was/am a fascist - it was just an ill-considered spur of the moment thing. Maybe his was too? 2) This doesn't appear to have been such an issue during his playing career in England, nor was it an issue when he took over as manager of Swindon, nor was it an issue for UEFA when they granted him his pro-licence as a coach. Why all the fuss now? 3) Re a person's politics - I totally abhor the Tory party, their ideologies, what they stand for, what they have done to my country in the past and what they are currently doing to the whole of the UK now. Didn't stop me from supporting Watford when their major benefactor, a man, like his party, totally without morals or sensitivity, bought the club. So I guess, no, politics aren't important in football.
From that reliable source - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4870918/Paolo-Di-Canio-at-bomb-fascists-funeral.html
Interesting article presenting the other side http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/clubs/sunderland/article3729432.ece
My Grandad was born in Sunderland and watched their pre-war team as a boy - if he was still here I'd love to know what he would make of it. It has been said that as Di Canio is a Lazio fan, the salute was a recognition of his fellow fans rather than an outright Nazi salute - not having seen any photos or video clips relating to it, I can't judge the truth of that. As for Miliband resigning as vice-chairman, it does seem rather ironic that someone who will shortly be retiring from politics quits a post due to someone else's politics. Would the mineworkers have taken their stance if he hadn't quit? My guess is probably not. I also think that if it was Stevenage he'd become manager of instead of Sunderland, this wouldn't even get a mention. I don't condone fascism in any way, but I think that as he is hardly going to make any dent in the political fabric of either the UK or Italy, that we treat it solely for what it is, a high-profile outspoken figure stating his view and the media making a political storm of it.
Well the Swindon faithful did not seem to have a problem with Di Canio but I suppose that Milliband David exiting Sunderland shortly followed by the Miners has brought the links to fascism to the fore. To be fair I don't know the political persuasions of Watford managers past and present and maybe I don't want to. Players, backroom staff, chairman and directors may well fall short of my own political ideology and possibly I fall well short of theirs. Football is a broad church and does just about strand all classes, rich and poor - Di Canio is just a very small part of this rich tapestry. Time will only tell! Still hope that they go down though.
Old hat news, cheap and nasty journalism. Milliband is off doing charriddee stuff, Di Canio's appointment makes for an easy exit door. Cheap. Wasn't a problem when he was at Swindon, ergo it really should not be a problem now just that Sunderland are a big club and the tabloids can sell more papers off the back of them. Plus he is replacing a very popular manager and all-round nice guy in Martin O'Neil. If he is found, in his new job, to be using racist language or discriminating against players of a certain ethnicity the for sure he should be pilloried. There should be no place for that in football. That said there is a lot of muck raking and attention seeking going on, be it from the Society of Black Lawyers (or whatever they're called) to the spluttering various anti-racism campaigns to the likes of Brighton fans recoiling in horror over 'homophobic' chanting from the oppo fans. I hope he does a good job for them and keeps them up. I'm not sure anyone can but he is certainly one of the few in with a chance - which is exactly why he was appointed. His politics may be distasteful but they are his business unless he makes it our business. He hasn't done as much yet so personally I'd back him. He is indeed 'box office'.
I do not know anything about fascism in Italy, but to become a partner with the National Socialists in Germany does not give a good impression. I know Italy still have political groups who very easily could become very nasty, all countries have them. What I do not understand and this happens a lot of times is why should something a person made years ago matter now if it has not mattered before. I can see that when somebody is not in the eye of the journalists it is not reported and in this story Paulo di Canio has been obvious for the success he has had in Swindon. Di Canio has made no effort to hide this but the false shock of the journalists is odd, as if they dave just made this finding. What I would not like to see is the situation that you cannot have a job because you do not belong to the correct political party. If I was to be a fascist or a communist that is for me, only if I start causing problems for others is when my thoughts and deeds should be questioned.
Very interesting thread and a great topic well discussed. A few years ago I studied Sports Development at University and one of the biggest modules in my final year was about 'Sport and Politics' and I couldn't believe how the two intertwine on such a regular basis.. perhaps in different ways in football than sport as a whole but it has been the case for decades and the public (& media) haven't batted an eyelid, however an individuals political viewpoint being in question is probably something very new, particularly in English football I am very happy that PDC is not on his way to my club but I see no reason why the media have decided to 'muddy the water' the way they have other than to generate some more 'News.' His political view is his own and has never affected his playing or managerial career in the past so why now?.. Do the media expect PDC to only sign white players? Only Italian players? Treat certain players differently? Obviously like I said I'm happy hr's not on his way to Ipswich Town but honestly there is no point in any of this mud slinging as they are only trying to pre empt their own scandalous news articles about a news story that should (Hopefully) never happen
Having an Italian brother-in law I know that Italian politics is really in a league of its own. It has strong parties on the far right and left with far more support for both Fascism and Communism than in many parts of Europe. However even those two extremes are muddy have their own “Italian” brand that many outside Italy would struggle to recognise. The latest election had a party recently formed and led by a stand up comic emerge as just about the strongest party. So PDC’s views probably need to be considered in that context. If he were a Fascist of the Nazi variety I think we would all condemn him outright but the very fact that he has said he is not racist suggests he is more likley to be a supporter of a party like the British UKIP rather than BNP. I think that the recent media hype was stirred up because A) Sunderland are a much higher profile club than Swindon and B) David Milliband resigned because of him. The latter to me is not surprising as a leading Labour politician is hardly likely to want to be seen alongside a self-said Fascist. The media love this kind of thing. I suspect there are many people in football whose political views I would find more offensive than PDC’s and so long as he does not air repulsive views I am happy for him to follow his own conscience. I believe in Democracy and therefore support peoples’ rights to views I do not share.
politics , whether you are conscious of it or not, are in everything , many who say they have no 'interest' --often have strong views on stuff-- that is a political stance, di canio plays to the gallery somewhat, appeasing the lazio ultras, however he claims to be an admirer of el duce-- and when at swindon he ruled with an 'iron' fist-- many fell fowl of his Machiavellian tendencies, a ploy that will not work with 'big' players-- treating them like small kids, do as i say not as i do.... so for me , will gladly watch him fail.....
This is difficult for me, I regard H as a very good friend, and I truly value her friendship, so that adds another spin on the ongoing saga. I belong to a Sunderland only forum, as a friend of cyprussyd, who used to be super moderator on here, their fans are split down the middle, but what I said to them was, your last manager was Martin O'Neill, an Irishman that you were all excited about when he came to Sunderland! Did you ask him if he was pro- or anti-IRA? Would it have mattered? A man's beliefs do not, and MUST not prevent him from gainful employment unless he is promoting his beliefs!
I do think that to say it doesn't matter what he believes is an over simplification on different levels. Clearly there have been pictures of him at Fascist events and he did admit at one time to have leanings in that direction. So for the press to seize on it and make it a major story can be expected. How deeply involved in it he has been is not really known, but if the tabloids say it then in a lot of people's eyes it must be true. So to appoint someone with a reputation of that nature will put some people off the club. Others of course will say he is right to to follow that path and applaud him getting the post. Then there are those who will say it doesn't matter what he believes and sit back and watch the other two groups having a verbal battle. Somehow I wonder what would happen if Luton were to appoint a manager who was supporting the EDL. Would we say that with their record it didn't matter? Assuming the players are paid enough they will not care what he says and I doubt that any of them would take a stand. To not say what you believe is not a good place to be in if your living depends on it, so they will ignore it. If results go well some will even think it is something to do with the managers character and start to see if there is something in it for them. I suspect however he might have to change his behaviour to some of his players as they will not stand for being pulled out of a game and kicked as they head towards the dressing room. He has the right to hold his views, but will find that like a dog shaking a bone, the press will be sniffing around until they find something that will drag him down and the football club with him, which is not good with the present day PC attitudes.
I notice there is a lack of real evidence that DiCanio supports the type of politics that the media have tried to drag up. Also what massive hypocrisy from Millibland - he is quiting to take up a highly paid career in a charity! As stated above, where were the hacks when DiCanio was a player and manager at Swindon... BB - "Re a person's politics - I totally abhor the Tory party, their ideologies, what they stand for, what they have done to my country in the past and what they are currently doing to the whole of the UK now." - I didn't realise Dave and the boys were in change in Oz?
Not Dave, but the Tories were, simply under another name. Interestingly, since we had the foresight to toss them out and restore commonsense, Australia has developed one of the strongest economies in the world. But I'm sure you knew that.
I go along with most of this....... Look we have had Marlon King, Troy Deeney etc... and can they play football....
