Tottenham fans voice ‘serious concerns’ over Roberto De Zerbi appointment after Mason Greenwood support

Roberto De Zerbi ’s appointment as Tottenham manager “raises serious and far-reaching concerns” following his public support of former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood , the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) has said. De Zerbi has signed a five-year contract at Spurs with the club facing a relegation battle, sitting just one point above the relegation zone with seven games remaining. De Zerbi, who previously managed Brighton in the Premier League , replaces the interim manager Igor Tudor, following the Croatian’s disastrous 44-day spell in charge.

But several Tottenham supporters’ groups, including Proud Lilywhites, urged the club to not appoint De Zerbi due to the Italian having backed Greenwood during his time in charge in charge of Marseille. The TST said those concerns were brought to the club directly while Spurs considered De Zerbi’s appointment. Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm over allegations relating to a young women after images and videos were posted online.

The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges in February 2023 owing to a “combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses” and due to “no realistic prospect of conviction”. In November, De Zerbi described Greenwood as a “good guy” that had paid a “heavy price” and added: “It saddens me what happened in his life, because I know a totally different person than the one who was described. ” In a statement, the TST said De Zerbi’s comments on 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”.

The group said the appointment of De Zerbi could “create a divide among supporters at a time when we all need to be pulling together to back the team” and it was “concerning that the club would put us in this position right when the team needs fans the most”. On De Zerbi’s comments, the TST said: “If those remarks reflect his genuine views, they cast a troubling shadow over the values of the club we love. ” De Zerbi managed Greenwood during his spell at French club Marseille (AFP via Getty Images) The TST also called on Tottenham to “reassert its commitment to the values that fans hold dear - chief among them equality, respect, and integrity” and said any future messages from De Zerbi “must clearly and unequivocally reaffirm these values”.