De Zerbi's Tottenham Appointment Faces Backlash Over Mason Greenwood Comments

The appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as Tottenham Hotspur's manager has sparked controversy among the club's fans. The main reason lies in the comments that the Italian coach made in the past about Mason Greenwood, a player who was signed by Olympique de Marseille. Greenwood's signing by the French club came after he was arrested in January 2022 on suspicion of rape and assault, and later in February 2022 on suspicion of sexual assault and threats to kill.

Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with one count of attempted rape, one of controlling and coercive behaviour and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The player denied all charges. The trial was scheduled for November 2023, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped the charges in February 2023. The CPS stated that the decision was made due to the withdrawal of key witnesses and the emergence of new material that made a conviction unviable.

During his time at Olympique de Marseille, De Zerbi showed his support for Greenwood, considering him a world-class player. When asked about the proposed agreement for Greenwood, De Zerbi stated: 'Mason is a world-class player, but we haven't recruited him yet. I don't know what happened, but I'm not used to getting involved in my players' private lives. But if he comes here, you have to know that I treat all my players like my sons. I can tell them off in private, but I would never attack them in public.'

Once Greenwood joined the team, De Zerbi insisted that the former Manchester United player, who has been capped once by the England national team, was a 'good guy'. He also suggested that he was 'saddened' by how the English press had represented Greenwood.

Following the 2022 allegations, several fan groups, including figures like Rachel Riley, pushed for Manchester United to terminate Greenwood's contract. THFC Flags, a fan-led group that organizes banners at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, was among those who joined the 'No to De Zerbi' campaign before the Italian arrived in London. A statement from the group read: 'Tottenham Hotspur claims to be a club that prides itself on being inclusive, supportive and safe. As a group committed to promoting and amplifying this culture, in the belief that this will create the best environment and atmosphere to enjoy football, we are extremely disappointed and dismayed by the public pursuit of Roberto De Zerbi... De Zerbi is not the kind of person we want associated with our club or representing us. No to De Zerbi.'

Proud Lilywhites, Spurs' official LGBTQ+ fans' group, said: 'When someone in that position publicly defends a player like Mason Greenwood, it matters, not just in isolation but in what it signals.' Meanwhile, Women of the Lane, whose aim is to eliminate sexism and misogyny in football, argued that De Zerbi's comments raised 'serious questions about judgment and leadership'.