Tottenham supporters’ trust expresses concern over De Zerbi appointment
The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust has issued a scathing response to Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment as head coach, raising what it describes as “serious and far-reaching concerns” regarding his previous defence of Mason Greenwood, reports BritPanorama.
Following the Italian’s signing of a five-year deal on Tuesday, the trust released a statement warning that his arrival has placed “heavy strain” on supporter solidarity at a critical moment in the club’s season. With Spurs fighting to avoid dropping out of the Premier League, the trust expressed alarm that the appointment could fracture the fanbase precisely when collective backing for the team is most essential.
The controversy stems from De Zerbi’s tenure at Marseille, where he vocally backed the club’s acquisition of Greenwood despite the former Manchester United player’s troubled history. In 2022, Greenwood faced charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He denied all allegations, and the Crown Prosecution Service dropped proceedings in February 2023 after key witnesses withdrew and new evidence emerged. Greenwood subsequently spent time on loan at Getafe before securing a permanent transfer to Marseille in 2024.
During his time working with Greenwood, De Zerbi called him a “good person” and stated, “It saddens me what happened to him because I know a very different person from the one portrayed in England.” The trust condemned De Zerbi’s remarks as “unnecessary, ill-judged, and deeply offensive to a significant number of supporters” and warned they would have “left victims of male violence alarmed.” Several fan organisations have voiced their opposition, including Proud Lilywhites, the club’s LGBTQI+ supporters’ association, and Women of the Lane.
According to the trust, it contacted the club to register its objections prior to the appointment being confirmed. “We believe these statements, left unchecked, will create a divide among supporters at a time when we all need to be pulling together to back the team,” the statement read. The trust noted that fans have been mobilising around the “All Together, Always” campaign, making the timing of this appointment particularly problematic.
The supporters’ group emphasised that any appearance of sympathy towards those accused of physical or sexual violence against women “fundamentally undermines trust in the custodianship of this club.” It called upon both Tottenham and De Zerbi to publicly restate their “commitment to the values that fans hold dear chief among them equality, respect, and integrity.” The statement made clear that verbal assurances alone would not suffice and that meaningful actions must follow.
Specifically, the trust declared action should include visible and sustained support for women’s charities and organisations working to combat violence against women. Without such concrete steps, the appointment will continue to cast doubt over the club’s principles.
As the dust settles on Tottenham’s latest management change, it serves as a reminder of how interconnected football governance and fan sentiment can be, especially when the stakes are so high on the pitch.
