Sunderland FC are all over the newspapers, front and back, goose stepping their way into controversy.
The reason for the ruckus? Signor Paolo Di Canio, their new manager, is a self-proclaimed fascist.
The Italian maverick will be dictating things at the Stadium of Light, home of Black Shirts, I mean Black Cats, after he was appointed manager following the sacking of Martin O’Neill.
In an interview in 2005 Di Canio told Italian TV he was a fascist, admitted he was “fascinated” by Benito Mussolini, and during his playing days was banned for giving a fascist salute to fans after a Rome derby. He was banned for 11 games after pushing over a referee while playing in the Premier League.
This combinations of controversies could hardly have drawn more attention to his arrival if he’d turned up on a chariot in full body armour and cape waving a fasces in the air while screaming the Italian national anthem.
His appointment led local MP David Miliband to resign his position on Sunderland’s board. Although Milliband had already announced he was moving to New York, and isn’t from Sunderland so how long he would have stayed, even if Tony Blair had been made manger is open to some debate. Durham Miners Association have also chipped in.
Seeking to dig himself out of trouble, sort of, Di Canio told reporters quizzing him about his political views “This is not the House of Commons” well at least he is geographically observant even if not politically aware.
So Sunderland have seven games left to avoid the drop while being managed by a man who’s hero ended his days hanging from a lamppost. Over to you Paolo.
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