In the wake of Sunderland’s dismissal of their controversial manager, Paolo Di Canio, it appears that fascism, the revolutionary political creed that spawned some of the twentieth century’s most murderous regimes and provoked the most destructive war in human history, is bad again.
Fascism ceased to be bad in March, when the Black Cats chose to appoint self-declared fascist Di Canio as their new head coach, claiming that any suggestion that having a fascist manager might be in any way problematic was “insulting to the integrity of this football club.”
“I used to think fascism was bad, mostly on account of all the genocides,” said Sunderland fan Darren Arkwright, 36. “But thanks to Sunderland, I came to realise that it wasn’t really something anyone should think too much about.”
“I suppose it’s not OK to be a fascist anymore,” said Arkwright. “I’m going to have to go back to having a negative view of straight-arm salutes and the Bologna massacre and Mussolini, and those aforementioned genocides.”
“We have learned from our mistakes with Paolo,” said a club spokesperson, “And this time we’ll consider how a candidate’s views will play with our media coverage, our sponsors, and our brand identity, going forwards.”
