Roberto De Zerbi appointed as Tottenham’s new manager (Image: PA)
Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust believes the club’s decision to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as its new head coach has raised serious and widespread concerns over his comments regarding Mason Greenwood last year. De Zerbi signed and managed Greenwood at his former club Marseille, but Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling/coercive behavior and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. A woman filed a complaint after images and videos of the incident were circulated online.
The Crown Prosecution Service withdrew the charges in February 2023, citing “the withdrawal of key witnesses and newly revealed material.” That meant there was “no realistic prospect of conviction.” The trust issued its own statement shortly after confirming Spurs’ appointment. It’s a start: “We note that the club has announced the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as manager.
“While we recognize the need to act urgently as the pool of managers with recent Premier League experience is limited and Spurs face the possibility of relegation, this appointment has raised serious and widespread concerns and we have encouraged many fans to contact us to express their strength of feeling. We have raised these concerns directly with the club prior to the announcement.”
“The club has always been committed to speaking out against incidents of violence against women and girls, acting with integrity in the face of any incident and upholding the club’s values. De Zerbi’s comments about Mason Greenwood were unnecessary, ill-judged and deeply offensive to a significant number of our supporters.”
Mr De Zerbi described Mr Greenwood as a “good man” who paid a “huge price” in November. The Marseille manager said at the time: “I’m sad about what happened in his life, because I know a completely different person than the one described.”
Spurs thoroughly considered De Zerbi’s comments and the wider sentiment surrounding Greenwood during negotiations with the Italian manager. Proud Lilywhites, Spurs Reach and Women of the Lane are among the supporter groups that raised concerns before his appointment was confirmed.
THST’s statement continued: “At a time when we all need to come together and support our team, we believe these comments, if left unchecked, will cause a rift among our supporters. We are concerned that the club would put us in this position at a time when our team needs our fans the most.”
“Fans have rallied behind the ‘All Together Always’ initiative and this appointment will put a huge strain on that unity. If these comments reflect his genuine views, they cast a worrying shadow on the values of the club we love.”
“The club must reaffirm its commitment to the values that its fans hold dear: equality, respect and integrity. Any sympathy for alleged perpetrators of physical or sexual violence against women fundamentally undermines confidence in the stewardship of this club.”
“With this appointment, communications from the club and Mr. de Zerbi must clearly and unequivocally reaffirm these values. Furthermore, those words must be backed up by meaningful action, including visible and continued support for women’s charities and organizations working to combat violence against women.”
“What we wanted was to make a short-term appointment of someone who understands the club and can guide the players over the next seven games. Then, in the summer, we would have had the opportunity to bring together a wide range of candidates with a track record of success in inspiring fans and players, candidates who can lead the team over the next few seasons and build sustained success.”
“The club has made a different choice. We will continue to stand behind the team and support their efforts to play our part in maintaining the club’s Premier League status, but we understand that many fans will do so with a heavy heart.”
“Our five principles of Spurs ownership include leading with integrity and upholding ethical standards. Supporters currently rate our performance in this area at just 2.2 out of 10. This decision risks further eroding trust if it is not approached with clarity, humility and decisive action.”
“We fully understand that the immediate priority is to avoid relegation. However, this situation is the result of a long-term strategic failure. THST has been warning for years that the club was heading in this direction, but the lack of timely and sound decision-making has left options severely impaired.”
“It will take a huge effort for many fans to regain trust in the club’s leadership. That process must start with transparency, accountability and a renewed commitment to the principles that define Tottenham Hotspur.”
