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Things Are Hard Enough When You Belong Here
Written by Mullet on Monday, 1st Apr 2013 17:02

“Fascist but not racist,” that's how Paolo Di Canio confusingly describes himself as the media fall over themselves to describe him and his appointment on their terms, somewhat gleefully.

In a week where 'the old faces' were noted knowingly by pundits at the England games, (particularly in San Marino) and the question of racist chants aimed at the Ferdinands are now drowned out by the circus in the North-East and it seems to me that fandom and fanaticism is being subverted once again all too cynically.

Racism and football, politics and football, religion and football, as well as principles and football are all juxtapositions which change throughout generations in terms of importance and relevance. That said, it's hard to sympathise with those Wearsiders throwing their season tickets away in disgust or those England fans throwing their hands up at what they see as 'PC gorn mad, guv'. If you mix your football with your ideologies then on your head be it.

To shun Di Canio because of his somewhat confusing set of seemingly half-defined and half-baked beliefs seems slightly hypocritical when it's done in the name of anti-fascism. As an Ipswich fan it sits uncomfortably with me when our current squad is a veritable rogues gallery. Yet we all turn up regardless and faithfully to boot.

Cynically, the political exploitation on both sides as David Miliband resigns from the Sunderland board in protest before he sets off for a cushy job abroad, makes it a story bigger than football. It also makes it hard to separate from the genuine suffering of his family at the hand of fascists of another vintage amid the inferences of others.

I am of the belief that the club is always bigger than the individual and in the case of Ipswich even the longevity and loyalty of a few doesn't stop them being a mere footnote in our history – until Di Canio says or does something tangibly 'fascist' at Sunderland it seems a difficult line for Black Cats to walk to me, especially to condemn him out of hand.

The media must take a large portion of blame here, as a rookie manager at another small and unfashionable club Di Canio's politics were mentioned in much briefer and at times oddly whimsical terms. The razzmatazz of the Premier League and Sunderland's vain attempts to stay in it chucks a generous heap of gravitas amongst the hand-wrung petrol on this bonfire of public opinion engulfing all sensible debate in less than 24 hours. Those asking for him to apologise for his past mistakes because now he is a Premier League manager are laughably pompous and self-defeating.

As a player, there was little to suggest Di Canio was largely shunned or deserving of censure in this country – that view his beliefs are somewhat of a curious novelty remained until he went home. That raised arm in Rome, in front of those fans was indicative of the man, the culture and the country he comes from. England and it's football clubs are markedly different to the political vehicles of their Italian, German, Russian counterparts et al.

hat doesn't excuse his behaviour but much like the pathetic 'cultural' defence of Suarez and his “negrito” remark, you can't apply it in attack and not defence of your club, your game and your ideals or vice versa and retain any modicum or fairness or integrity.

People have speculated on the likes of Marlon King or Lee Hughes pulled on the sacre bleu of Ipswich and if as fans they'd walk away from the club. Personally I couldn't. I wouldn't exactly be chuffed, and I wouldn't suggest past indiscretions flatly don't matter, but lest ye be judged and all that. I'd be more concerned about whether or not they conduct themselves on the field and off it in a way which suggests they are harming more than their own reputation here and now – otherwise what's the point of any second chances at all?

As Glenn Hoddle and Ron Atkinson even Andy Gray and Richard Keys have shown, all it takes for most right-minded people to respond fairly is the action, and not the possibility of opening your mouth. Doing so can be more than enough when it suits society to resign you to the professional doldrums forever.

With another arrest at Town in recent weeks and more minor scandal at the club, the issue of justice both legal and moral has no place in the world of the hypothetical futures. Sunderland fans worried they are now the target of EDL affections and affiliation aren't being ridiculous in my book but impetuous. If that's how you feel and you can't be around it fair enough, but surely to oppose such things being absent is the worst tactic of all? Especially at a time when your club is looking at relegation. Again then the decision should be judged as a football one first and foremost – the legality of employment barriers because you don't like someone is entirely moot in the face of such attitudes on either side.

The fact that on football grounds, it is an appointment which seems ridiculous and risky should be at the forefront of message boards, social media and editorials – sadly it rarely seems to be. We've all seen how off-field issues can impede players doing their job and we've all seen with disbelief as fans congregate around their heroes at Liverpool and Chelsea alike in the face of public opinion. My main question is where were the counter protests or those with such strong feelings on the opposite side?

Fans at all clubs are a reflection of society as a whole – the game isn't the domain of the 'working class bloke' any longer and hasn't been for decades. With those changes challenging the good, the bad and ugly within the game in all forms is the job of everyone who feel compelled to do so. If you walk away from the stands how do you expect your voices to be heard? You won't drown out the hate of a few with silence.

As a Town fan I know what it's like to sing over the faint strains of that Fashanu chant, and we all know what it's like when people demand everyone takes their 'official' view because the minority are perceived to speak for the majority. I have to ask the conscientious objectors how their principles affect their attendance when the controversy is quiet and the football going well? There aren't many Man Utd fans that find SAF's strident left-wing views forged on the streets of Govern a barrier to their participation or adoration, so what action is appropriate for us fans and when is the time to take it?

Personally I can't think of many people who would keep me away from Town – even the appointment of Sam Allardyce would see me ripping the linen off my bed in a fervour rather than wrapping myself up in its tear-sodden sanctuary. But I say to any fans who feel morally obliged to withhold their presence not to, but on the contrary make it known. You can't change anything if you're not there.

Should Town ever make such a move in terms of recruitment – I'd like to think all voices would be heard where it count, on the terraces. You don't have to stand for hate at your club, but likewise you don't have to embrace it either. The choice is and should always be personal for all concerned.




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BlueBadger added 21:05 - Apr 1
'should Town ever make such a move in terms of recruitment'..we signed Lee Bowyer last season. and the forum was awash with idiots wetting themselves with excitement.
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Sospiri added 09:53 - Apr 2
That's an amazing blog. Well done mate.
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BillBlue added 10:58 - Apr 2
Yep, well done. At least one fellow supporter with a brain.
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stickymockwell added 12:24 - Apr 2
Great blog Mullet!
I dont know how you can be so hypocritcal Badger on the Bowyer situation but take the p*** out of the posters who have a moral objection to Chopra?

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MVBlue added 12:46 - Apr 2
This is a good piece. Makes me think about the reality of constant support when the club appoints tarnished individuals. And I agree, we have a veritable rogues gallery on the playing staff recently.
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Surco72 added 13:37 - Apr 2
An excellent well written piece as always Mullet .Unfortunately morals normally only come into play in football when teams are struggling . Villians are remembered as heroes if they return for their clubs and achieve sucess ,look no further than Best ,Cantona ,Merson, Adams , drink , drugs , violence and prison but all legends ?
But if your team struggles or is relegated everything in the world is the players fault who has shown a human fault or had a beer too many on a saturday night or the courage to speak his mind , but that is life and the fickle world we now live in with access to air any view so easily . Perhaps fans would be less critical if their every drunken mistake , comment ,loss of temper ,view was for all to read or see during their lives ?
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Hiltzkooler added 20:58 - Apr 2
Well written Mullet...thought provoking....but would suggest that the difference to players misdemeanors you highlight to Di Canio's political views he ill advisedly espouses are more deeply rooted and disrespectful to a country that fought fascist regimes...your points regarding the pitiful UK media and the shocking sensationalism regarding coverage of Di Canio at Swindon and Di Canio Sunderland are well made..you are right it is a fans choice but the club is taking a risk with such a contentious and emotive issue as it forgets a lineage of history this country has
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theobald1985 added 14:43 - Apr 3
if di canio was appointed here i would still come but would not be happy.
i picked his book up about a year ago at a car boot and read it and have to say he comes across very badly . extreme right winger and massively self obsesed he is a dictator in the making.
Chopra loving a bet pales into insignificance compared to di canios various charecter flaws. Chops for 20 goals next season
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JWM added 17:08 - Apr 3
This is just a media storm over nothing imo! All these left wingers wetting themselves over this makes me sick. I still live in a democracy (i think) and I don't care that some people have different deeply held views to mine so long as they don't try and impose them onto me! In this case Di Canio wants to concentrate on his football philosophy but as usual the media all want to pile in and make something out of nothing. I find all this political grandstanding by the miners and Milliband deeply hypocritical and it's about time the Media shut up and moved on. Would any one dare criticise SAF for his political views or those of Moyes et al? In a democracy all shades of opinion are valid no matter how abhorent they may seem and if you don't like it sod off to North Korea or some other god awful place!
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theobald1985 added 09:14 - Apr 4
JWM people are not suggesting locking him up or banning him from managing.
he is free to say what he wants just as people on the left are entitled to speak there opinion.
I dont really like david miliband but can understand his position given who his father was. mussolini was a vile man so it is difficult to see any redeeming features in him but somehow di canio does.
People dont crtiicse SAF for his socialist views because the sort of socialist world they believe in is difficult to find fault with -the sort of world mussolini wanted was unacceptable
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