Apparently yes, if you're Swindon Town F.C. in England's League Two. Sure, I don't have (or desire) the ability to hire and fire people, and I have zero experience in the operations of a professional football club. These facts alone would lead many to rubbish my opinion on Swindon Town's decision to hire Paolo Di Canio as their next manager. If that's you, you're always free to stop reading here and I bid thee addio!
Now, I've disclosed previously that I'm a supporter of West Ham United - a club where to this day Di Canio receives a hero's welcome. Speaking strictly of footballing skills, many fans of the Claret and Blue would argue that the Hammers haven't had a player with such ability in and around the box since Di Canio's departure. Shoot, I still consider his wonder-volley against Wimbledon in March of 2000 as the best goal I've ever seen. Fantastico!
Taking a look at the entire package though, this parcel has arrived in Wiltshire marked 'EXTREME LIABILITY'. Maybe this decision makes sense given Swindon Town's consistent financial woes, or considering they've cycled through no less than 10 managers (including caretakers) since 2005 - what's another punt on a retired footballer with no managerial experience? But let's not also forget that this crate comes stamped with the big black, ugly letters of 'FASCIST'!
Even though he wowed the Upton Park faithful and remains beloved by them, I refuse to support this chump or make any excuses about his foul, misguided politics as others have. They say Di Canio isn't a bona fide fascist, because either he doesn't or we don't understand what fascism really entails. Or, Paolo simply identifies with fascist symbols, while having a harmless fascination with fascist figurehead Benito Mussolini, they muse. That might be your view of things Sig. Marcotti. Allow me a minute, dear readers, to lay out my take on Di Canio, the fascist.
In this beautiful and crazy game, we often see an entire club and its fans branded with this label or that one - Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. = pro-union, River Plate = ruling elite, St. Pauli = anti-fascist/racist, Real Madrid = Francoist authoritarianism, e. g. These labels generally stem from a club's historical development and/or the stated beliefs and activities of their most vocal, visible, and famous supporters. Obviously though, not every fan of Los Merengues is a fascist, just as a majority of West Ham United supporters are not characters straight out of Green Street Hooligans who fetishize violence. Same goes for S.S. Lazio. Even though Lazio was the preferred team of Mussolini, you likely won't see the stands of the Stadio Olimpico overflowing with boneheads on the weekends nowadays. It's no secret however that a sizable, rather regimental section of fascisti occupied a position of power in Lazio's Curva Nord during Di Canio's spells with the club. The racist leaders of the Irriducibili, as they were known, could mobilize hundreds if not thousands of supporters to the extent that they were able to affect the club's day-to-day operations. It's also no secret that Di Canio and the Irriducibili share a special relationship - one of mutual respect and admiration. With all this in mind then, what message does the gesture below send?
Di Canio received a slap on the wrist for the salute, which the Italian made on multiple occasions while with Lazio. Most in the footballing media couldn't get enough and took him to task for his straight arm stupidity. Di Canio responded by saying "I am a fascist, not a racist. I give the straight arm salute because it is a salute from a 'camerata' to 'camerati'." It was noted at the time that Paolo's choice of words was telling, if not an outright nod to members of Mussolini's fascist regime - a regime that codified the Manifesto della razza or Manifesto of Race in 1938. Some call the Manifesto purely "tactical" in its adoption - "to show Italian friendship and loyalty toward Hitler and Nazism". Tactical huh? That certainly doesn't say much for all those who faced severe repression in the name of these retched laws, does it? But I digress, as Di Canio's adamant he's a camerata who's not a bigot like other camerati might be. But then there's this gesture, which very few pundits commented on, and about which the player himself was silent...
It's odd how that dude to Paolo's right is making the identical sign, no? A coincidence? What could it mean in the context of the Curva Nord circa 2005/2006? Maybe they're ordering three gelati a piece from a vendor in the stands? I don't know, it's probably nothing, as the famously-moral and upstanding Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi noted at the time. One of Di Canio's fans made this video, and they are able to find meaning where I cannot. But again, Paolo provided no explanation for this one and it seems unfair to take the word of some nutter whose screen name is AvePaolo88, right?
I'm not very sharp, as I've said before. But where I come from, if something: walks like a fascist; calls itself a fascist; decorates its skin with unmistakably fascist symbols; and makes widely-recognized fascist salutes to their friends, then they're a fascist, full stop!
So back to the question that opened this post. What would compel you to hire a fascist over another candidate? Swindon's Chief Executive Nick Watkins says that the decision "was made in the best interests of Swindon Town Football Club". What kind of sense does this make given that Di Canio hasn't a shred of previous work experience as a football manager? One might hold the position that politics have no place in our game (despite Paolo's repeated attempts to usher his brand in), so why fuss about hiring a fascist? With the game's inextricable link to our social fabric, this position isn't realistic or even historically viable. One might try to argue that employment law prohibits any form of discrimination when it comes to hiring, but typically this provision extends to religious and not political beliefs (though not always). I argue that this decision has everything to do with money. Nick Watkins and the Swindon higher-ups anticipate a financial windfall by bringing in this controversial, high-profile ex-footballer. Already Watkins has heralded Di Canio and proudly connected his arrival with a jump in season ticket sales.
Many Swindon supporters don't share Watkin's hollow enthusiasm. Members of the local GMB branch quickly withdrew their sponsorship of The Robins once Di Canio was hired. They said:
"Our local branch has decided to end its association with Swindon following the appointment of Paolo Di Canio. He has openly voiced support for Mussolini so it beggars belief that Swindon could have appointed him, especially given the multi-ethnic nature of the team and the town."
I've been known to be critical of business unions and their decision-making structures, but applaud the GMB for this action. Other supporters are mobilizing to voice their frustrations, with sites like swindontommy taking a very public and firm stand against this divisive appointment.
Here at MCC, we stand in solidarity with those who refuse to silently stand aside and see the reputation of their club further tarnished by money-hungry morons and their fascist gimmick. Other Robins fans will harangue these dedicated supporters and warn that politics have no place in football, and they'll be partially right. Fascist politics have no place in our global game, just as fascist politics have no place in our global community.
Take us out Woody...
No comments:
Post a Comment