The recent publicity that controversial figure Paolo Di Canio received after his appointment as the manager of Sunderland has not exactly been positive to say the least. Nonetheless, the way in which the media has portrayed Di Canio’s political leanings appears to me to be nothing more than a calculated personal attack. The storm cloud erupted immediately following the appointment, heightened by David Miliband’s resignation from Sunderland’s board on ‘political’ grounds. Is this not the same man who had, just days before, announced his resignation from Parliament in order to earn obscene amounts of money at a charity in New York? Probably just a coincidence.
Di Canio has previously voiced his admiration for Italian leader Benito Mussolini and has expressed a personal sympathy towards certain fascist principles. Indeed, as far as ideologies go, Fascism does not have the best reputation. Much of the negative reaction comes from its perceived marriage to racism and bigotry. However, fascist ideologies say little about race. Fascism, in essence, promotes strong leadership, and a kind of group solidarity that ostracises those who do not conform. In the past, this has led to certain racially fuelled violence, but the two are not inextricably bound together. It is perfectly legitimate therefore for one to claim, as Di Canio did when he said “I’m a fascist, but not a racist”.
A healthy respect for authority is a value that is instilled in us all, both at home and at school, during our formative years, and is the cornerstone of functional and successful societies. Moreover, the notion that no individual is superior to the whole is essential to working as part of a team. Equally, strong leadership is a quality that has been valued in societies for thousands of years, and is no less true today.
Given that Di Canio is not a politician, and as he has admitted previously he does not even vote, the practical application of the ideology must therefore be assessed in terms of its sporting function. Football is a team game, and the kind of togetherness that fascism teaches is essential in sporting success. Many of the most revered team successes in history have come about through the kind of fascist mentality that we are so quick to label abhorrent and evil. Even more striking is the extent to which strong sporting leaders are deified in our society, to such a degree that society even encourages the very fascist characteristics we are repeatedly forced to detest. It is therefore not incorrect or even outlandish to say that all team sportsmen are ideologically fascist, and maybe Di Canio is the only individual willing to admit it.
Paolo Di Canio’s eclectic mixture of influences includes, amongst other things, a respect and admiration for samurai culture. The samurai code promotes the kind of respect and honour to an extreme level, where participants in their culture are expected to disembowel themselves at the drop of a hat. Now, I’ve seen The Last Samurai, and we are definitely on Tom Cruise’s side throughout the film. So why is Di Canio’s affection for this extremist version of a fascist warrior class acceptable, but its more ideological and mellow cousin the cause for national outcry? The only reason for this comes from the way in which popular culture has shaped the way we are supposed to think.
The hypocrisy with which the media have acted in relation to Di Canio’s views is clearly lost on their reporters. In a nation that claims to support freedom of speech, the way in which Di Canio has been ostracised due to the fact that he believes something different to the norm seems itself quite fascist. On the pitch, Di Canio’s blend of passion, leadership and togetherness has been a resounding success. Even if he is the model fascist, Sunderland fans don’t care one bit.
I like the bit where a white Scientologist playing a Samurai is cited as supporting evidence. All the best with the writing career bbz.
This is a joke, right? This is either a joke article or one calculated to get website hits by generating “controversy”.
ARE WE THOUGH
Im so glad someone actually took a stance! yes totally agree.
This article will probably cause outrage but at the same time actually makes a very good point in a sporting context.
Don’t regard it as particularly in support of fascism either – although that will dominate debate on this.
You are super lucky you’ve got a common name so this won’t be the first thing that comes up when potential employers Google your name. You might be screwed if they put your uni in as well though.
This is the best thing i’ve read in student media for ages. How refreshing to get a piece that takes a controversial stance and backs it up well.
Even though there’s not much that’s controversial about teams working together in much the same way that fascists do, it’s a nice angle that I’ve not read before. Much better than the usual ‘stating the obvious’ dross out there.
Di Canio’s fascism invoked as tactical brilliance the day after Sunderland lose 6-1 to Villa, in a year where all champions league semi-finalists are fan-owned clubs. Your football commentary is just about as good as your political commentary.
All fascists? Nope, just you, sorry.
Please advise, unlike you I did not support the sole White man fighting against the yellow peril in The Last Samurai. Please can you refer to a specialist as I may not fit into your fascistic version of society.
Your argument hinges on a misreading of the film Last Samurai, an absurd example to use of Samurai culture in the first place. If you didn’t get your views from racist hollywood productions of Japanese history you might not draw such ridiculous conclusions.
I am sure it is easy for you to take a privilidged position of defending an ideology that actively promotes practices of racism, sexism and homophobia. You probably wouldn’t be worried about the consequences.
Oh wow this article is SO EGDY you’re SUCH a BRAVE and TRAILBLAZING person for supporting fascism GO YOU.
“Di Canio has been ostracised due to the fact that he believes something different to the norm seems itself quite fascist.”
Jesus wept….
i guess the french resistance were fascists for shooting fascists and the bielski brothers and those who died in the warsaw ghetto uprising were fascists because they killed Nazi’s; depriving them of freedom of speech. Hang on we’re all fascists for calling this article out, look at us horrible fascists ostracising the writer for saying that ostracising Di Canio is fascist.
Flawless logic….
Refreshing article, although I do not think Fascism at its best is about blindly following orders and accepting authority. Fascism emphasises will power and self-actualisation more than almost every other ideology. The point of it is for a group of people who agree on a system of ethical and cultural principles to remove people whose authority they do not accept from power so that they can have things their way. They are hierarchically organised, but the idea is that the leader shares their vision so that it might as well be they who are in charge. In this sense, Fascism does promote conformity, but this does not mean Fascists people to fall into line slavishly and insincerely. The best variants of Fascism do not want children to be brainwashed by their parents or at school – they want the family to be destroyed to as great an extent as possible and replaced by a national community which will protect them from this. Some theorists advocate the creation of many states each with a specific character, so that people can choose where to live based on which state’s institutions, laws and ways of doing things resonate with them (just as how Socrates refused to escape Athens before his execution since he thought he had agreed to accept the laws of his state by living there his whole life.)
Yeah I mean the bit where the Italian fascists torture and assasinate thousands of Communist and Jews, that’s just them having a healthy respect for authority. I’m just happy that your stupid troll article will forever remain on the interwebs, and it will come back to haunt you. Disgusting.
I actually almost feel sorry for the kid writing this. He is going to be so very embarrassed one day.