ROBERTO DE ZERBI has been named as Tottenham’s new manager, but already faces opposition from some groups of Spurs fans.
The Italian coach managed Mason Greenwood when he was manager of Marseille.
De Zerbi takes charge in North London with Spurs just one point above the relegation zone with seven games to play.
He replaces interim boss Igor Tudor, who left the club by mutual consent after just 44 days.
Marseille parted ways with the former Brighton manager in February after being thrashed 5-0 by PSG and being knocked out of the Champions League by Club Brugge.
He now arrives in N17 looking to rescue Spurs from relegation, but fans are already against their third manager of the season.
What happened with Mason Greenwood?
Mason Greenwood was arrested in January of 2022 on suspicion of rape and assault after a video surfaced on social media.
He was further arrested on February 1, 2022 on suspicion of sexual assault and making threats to kill.
In October of that year, he was charged with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The former Manchester United forward denied all the charges, and had been due to stand trial in November 2023, however the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped all charges in February of that year.
The CPS said, “a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”
What did Roberto De Zerbi say about Mason Greenwood?
Before Marseille’s European match against Newcastle last November, De Zerbi was asked by an English journalist how things were for the striker away from the football pitch.
He said, “I don’t want to get involved in anyone’s private life. I don’t even get into the private lives of my children, because I want to give everyone their freedom,” De Zerbi told a pre-match news conference.
“All I can see is that Mason seems a good lad, he paid in a strong way for what happened.
“He has probably here found the right environment for him, which gave him affection, and held out its hand to him.
“When I look at him as a person, I feel sad for what happened in his life, without getting into the details.
“Because the person I know here is very different to the one that has been described, especially in England.”
The Italian has faced backlash regarding his comments, with some accusing the manager of downplaying the allegations.
Tottenham fan opposition
Multiple Spurs fan groups have publicly opposed the decision to appoint De Zerbi.
One of which is the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust, who released a statement condemning the decision to hire the Italian that said, “While we recognise the limited pool of managers with recent Premier League experience, and the need to act with urgency as Spurs face the prospect of relegation, this appointment raises serious and far-reaching concerns, and many fans have been in touch with us to urge us to communicate the strength of feeling.
“We raised these concerns directly with the Club prior to its announcement.
“The Club has previously committed to challenging instances of violence against women and girls and acting with integrity and upholding its values when faced with any incidents.
“De Zerbi’s comments about Mason Greenwood were unnecessary, ill-judged, and deeply offensive to a significant number of supporters and, without doubt, will have left victims of male violence alarmed.
“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.
“It is concerning that the Club would put us in this position right when the team needs fans the most.
“Fans are rallying behind the ‘All Together, Always’ initiative, and this appointment places heavy strain on that unity.
“If those remarks reflect his genuine views, they cast a troubling shadow over the values of the Club we love.
Women of the Lane has also spoken out about the new manager, who were joined by Proud Lilywhites, the LGBTQI+ Supporters’ Association, and SpursREACH, which represents fans from ethnic backgrounds.
Women of the Lane said that the appointment has brought questions of the values and integrity of the club.
“The fact is that he hired him [Greenwood] as a player, and then continue to publicly back him and support him, sympathise with him.
“For me, that’s just unforgivable. I think that speaks to the character of De Zerbi.
“I don’t want him anywhere near my football club.
“This is about how we feel, this is about values, this is about integrity and, ultimately, it’s about safety.
“It’s about women feeling that they are safe around other men.”
