A quality deemed fairly oblivious from modern day football
currently is passion. It would seem, however that our society is one where
individuals cannot win. As if every quality is analysed far too eagerly by
those who wish to make bad press. In specific I raise the recent appointment
and then absolute shambolic nature of stories surrounding Paolo Di Canio. A
dazzling player in his former years he has recently gone on to claim acknowledgement
as a manager for his ‘passion’ and in particular the way he conducts himself
via his interviews and press conferences.
As a player Di Canio’s passion was evident on and off the
pitch, but at his appointment the talking points were far from football, more
the political beliefs he is supposedly meant to harbour. In the past he has
been reported as saying he held ‘fascist’ beliefs causing a country-wide uproar
and a subsequent resignation of a certain David Miliband from the Sunderland
board. In all honesty I don’t think so many people throughout the country have ever
taken such an interest in Sunderland Association Football Club. The question
is, why?
Di Canio’s managerial track record is somewhat of a
rollercoaster ride. True football fans adore him, others begrudge him, and
those who have only just joined the debate seem to have their message very
clear; That they don’t want such political beliefs in football. At Swindon this
went as far as a major sponsor of the club, GMB union, withdrawing from their
deal when Di Canio joined the club. His response probably proved them wrong
though. He led Swindon Town to promotion to League 1, but then left in February
of this year with his team teetering on the brink of Promotion to the
Championship. He cited the uncertainty of the takeover of the club as a key
reason for his departure and also claimed the sale of winger Matt Ritchie was a
reason, saying he was never ratified or acknowledged the deal. Prior to this he
had been a figure of media spotlight with the manner in which he conducted
himself in the technical area after being sent to the stands in a match versus
Huddersfield last year. He then went on to say he would do ‘what he wanted in
the technical area’ and that if officials wanted to send him to the stands
every game they could as his team would ‘win the league anyway’.
So, yes, in a nutshell the media have unlimited ammo to
throw at the former Sheffield Wednesday player but the real issue is where
exactly do his political beliefs come into concern? I see no reason for a
manager to hold any beliefs they wish, just like any player and with such
recent onus being placed on equality in football I feel the media have treaded
about this issue about as carefully as a stampede of elephants. Due to so much
media pressure he has now come and renounced himself as a ‘fascist not racist’,
but the idea of racism should never have been brought into this matter. It’s
evident that at a time of real tension in English football (an apparent uprising
of racist fans/chants) the media have very cleverly made a scapegoat out of Di
Canio using past actions to suggest his current nature. It’s ironic then that
the best managers in football have a certain dictatorship about them. Messer’s Fergurson
and Mourinho are never outspoken and certainly know how to lay the law on both
the media and their players.
So surely the burning desire and passion Di Canio wishes to
portray through his players is only natural to a man who never gave less than
one hundred percent on a football pitch? Unique characters in the game are what
make football so particularly popular worldwide. We as fans want a
multicultural league, and thus we have to respect the views that both players
and managers from other countries bring to said league(s). For example, has there
been a serious issue regarding Demba Ba’s ‘prayer-like’ celebration (due to his
Islamic beliefs)? No, and rightly not. Surely this is not entirely dissimilar
to Di Canio and any beliefs he has? In any case, it did not stop his
appointment as manager and it certainly doesn’t stop any ability he has as a
manager. It seems the only people who have a real issue with any political
views he may or may not currently have, have absolutely no place in football,
or any power (thankfully). It’s terribly ironic that this sort of issue in
football becomes plastered on every breakfast, day and evening show available
above all else, just another media tool it would seem to try and tarnish a
sport that’s in a state of suffering.
It’s unfortunate for a man who has produced success at first
attempt at Swindon Town, but it really does seem that Di Canio will have to
prove the doubters (and there are a lot of them) wrong. His recent statement
about how the upcoming derby against Newcastle ‘counts for 1,000’ games speaks volumes for his managerial intentions; that of really delivering to a vast number of fans. I’m
sure his passion will please every Sunderland fan out there and if he manages
to beat The Magpies in the next Tyne – Wear derby then the fan to manager
relationship will increase drastically. Di Canio wins any battle of passion
hands down, but once again his players’ football will have to do the talking.
