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Related: About this forumSunderland appoint "self-proclaimed fascist" Di Canio as manager (WTF?)
(CNN) -- It was announced a few hours before April Fool's Day, but the appointment of one of the most controversial characters in European football is no laughing matter for one English Premier League soccer club.Sunderland's American owner Ellis Short hopes Paolo Di Canio can keep the struggling team in the top flight, but his vice-chairman -- former British MP David Miliband -- has already resigned his role in protest.
"In the light of the new manager's past political statements, I think it right to step down," the ex-foreign secretary said on his website following Sunday's news that Di Canio will replace the sacked Martin O'Neill on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
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"I am a fascist, not a racist," Di Canio infamously told Italian news agency ANSA after making a straight-arm salute to the fans of his hometown club Lazio during a match against Rome rival Lazio in 2005.
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/31/sport/football/di-canio-miliband-sunderland-football/?hpt=hp_c3
Di Canio is a self-proclaimed Fascist. In 2005, he characterised his political views by declaring that he was "a fascist, not a racist".
His use of the Roman salute toward Lazio supporters, a gesture adopted by Italian fascists in the 20th century, has created controversy. Documented uses of the salute include in matches against arch-rivals A.S. Roma and A.S. Livorno Calcio, a club inclined to left-wing politics.[29] Di Canio received a one-match ban after the second event and was fined 7,000.[30] He was later quoted as saying: "I will always salute as I did because it gives me a sense of belonging to my people ... I saluted my people with what for me is a sign of belonging to a group that holds true values, values of civility against the standardisation that this society imposes upon us."[31] His salute has been featured on unofficial merchandise sold outside Stadio Olimpico after the ban.[29]
He has also expressed admiration for the fascist leader Benito Mussolini. In his autobiography, he praised Mussolini as "basically a very principled, ethical individual" who was "deeply misunderstood".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Di_Canio
Amazing. I assume that Sunderland does not have a very large number of Jewish supporters.
DollarBillHines
(1,922 posts)automatically brand him anti-Semetic?
I don't see it.
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)Mussolini himself was strongly anti-Semitic. And di Canio is a self-proclaimed admirer of Mussolini.
LeftishBrit
(41,192 posts)There is of course a certain overlap between the Far Right and football hooliganism, but not, I'd have thought, between the Far Right and football management - despite Ron Atkinson's 'remarks' a few years ago!
And at least from what I know, Sunderland supporters were never among those particularly associated with racism.
T_i_B
(14,734 posts)Sunderland are a club with a big support, friendly bunch too in my experience.
As to Di Canio? Best thing he did for Sheffield Wednesday was get a large suspension for pushing a referee over then buggering off to West Ham. Always preferred Benito Carbone to be honest.
Ghost Dog
(16,881 posts)under the rule of law which in UK excludes or should exclude for example the organisation of gangs of thugs, bribery and other forms of corruption and intimidation, discrimination, etc., and within current rules of so-called 'democracy'?
UK Equality Law:
- age
- being or becoming a transsexual person
- being married or in a civil partnership
- being pregnant or having a child
- disability
- race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
- religion, belief or lack of religion/belief
- sex
- sexual orientation
These are called protected characteristics.
Youre protected from discrimination in these situations:
- at work
- in education
- as a consumer
- when using public services
- when buying or renting property
- as a member or guest of a private club or association
You are legally protected from discrimination by the Equality Act 2010.
Youre also protected from discrimination if:
- youre associated with someone who has a protected characteristic, eg a family member or friend
- youve complained about discrimination or supported someone elses claim
/... https://www.gov.uk/discrimination-your-rights/types-of-discrimination
muriel_volestrangler
(101,154 posts)Di Canio claims not to be racist, and I don't think anyone is saying they expect him to discriminate against players. People are just saying they don't like his politics (politics do not count as a protected 'belief'). They have a right to ask that he's not employed because of hateful political views.
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)to hire as manager a self-proclaimed fascist and admirer of Mussolini. But it seems like (with the exception of David Miliband) this is not seen as that big a deal.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,154 posts)It was on the evening Radio 4 news today, for instance - a farce of a press conference, where he basically said he'd never talk about it. But I don't think people will be fobbed off that easily.
On edit:
"I, like many thousands of miners, have supported Sunderland from infancy and are passionate about football," said DMA general secretary Dave Hopper. "But there are principles which are much more important."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21999563
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21994889
fedsron2us
(2,863 posts)I would hazard a guess that there are a good few families in Sunderland who lost members in World War 2 fighting the ideology that Mussolini promoted. It was also one of the most heavily bombed English cities in that conflict suffering many civilian casualties. Hiring Di Canio is just an insult to their sacrifice.
What next Oswald Moseley as England manager.