Paolo's Past Overshadows Black Cats Position

‘Incredulous’ seems to be the best way to describe the majority of people’s reaction to Paolo Di Canio’s unveiling as the new Sunderland chief.

Whether it is his chequered past as a player, or his limited managerial background with third tier Swindon Town, the arrival of the Italian has certainly provoked a response from fans and the media alike.

Let’s start with Di Canio the player. He was temperamental but skilful, misunderstood but majestic. He also pushed over a referee after being sent off while wearing the colours of Sheffield Wednesday and, later in his career, made a fascist salute playing for his hometown club Lazio in the Rome derby.

Di Canio, who declared at the time (in 2004) that he was ‘a fascist, not a racist’, has been ponderous to say the least to reaffirm his stance or political beliefs to the point where some people are, understandably, confusing his tendencies with that of a racist.

Bizarrely, none of this seemed to matter when he was at Swindon so why his morals should matter more now he is at a ‘higher profile’ club in the Mackems is questionable.

People have a liking for the moral high ground in football. Unfortunately there isn’t any. Without digressing too much, there are an assortment of players who have all had their brushes with the law - extending to murderers - who are still playing in the football league.

Paolo Di Canio hasn’t murdered anyone, so what’s the problem?

As a manager, he guided Swindon to the League 2 title and a Wembley appearance in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final. But even then his reign was just a little bumpy, being described by senior board members as a ‘hand grenade’ and having well publicised arguments with black players Leon Clarke and Wes Foderingham.

A coincidence, surely?

The likes of Stephane Sessegnon, Titus Bramble and Wes Brown may have every right to feel a little uneasy at the Italian’s previous.

This is without bringing up the name of loan left-back Danny Rose, the England under-21 player at the centre of a racist brawl when on duty with the three lions in a game against Serbia last year, who, at the age of 22 may have had more than enough to contend with already.

For Sunderland and their owner Ellis Short, who has pumped money in to the club only to see them perilously close to the Premier League trap door, the decision to appoint Di Canio can only be described as a bold move.

They have got rid of the conservative ‘wouldn’t-say-boo-to-a-goose’ Martin O’Neill in favour of a sharp suited and even sharper tongued Italian, who has already prompted the resignation of vice chairman David Miliband.

A self proclaimed fascist in; a politician out, things just got a little more interesting on Wearside.