The appointment of Roberto de Zerbi as the new head coach of Tottenham Hotspur has sparked controversy among official fan groups due to his support for Mason Greenwood. The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust (THST) has publicly stated that it cannot endorse this decision.
De Zerbi's controversial stance on Mason Greenwood, a former Manchester United player who faced serious charges before they were dropped, is the primary reason behind the opposition. The Italian coach had previously stated that Greenwood "paid in a strong way" after leaving Manchester United for Marseille post his legal troubles.
This statement did not sit well with many fans and supporters, leading to an emergency board meeting held by THST. Following this meeting, THST contacted the club expressing their inability to support De Zerbi's appointment.
Fan groups express discontent
The discontent isn't limited to that alone; other fan groups have also voiced their opposition. Ali Speechly, co-founder of Women of the Lane, announced her group's disapproval and even declared she would stop attending matches over this issue.
With such widespread opposition from fans and supporters alike, De Zerbi faces an uphill battle in gaining acceptance as he steps into his role at Spurs. This comes at a critical time when the team is fighting hard to maintain its Premier League status.
Why were De Zerbi’s comments controversial?
Mason Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 when he was just 20 years old and considered one of United's most promising young players. However, all charges against him were dropped by February 2023. Despite these controversies surrounding him off-pitch, Greenwood continued his career initially on loan at Getafe before joining Marseille in July 2024 in a deal worth up to £26.6m. This transfer was agreed upon 19 days after De Zerbi was appointed as the boss of the Ligue 1 club.
However, Greenwood's signing sparked controversy in Marseille, with Mayor Benoit Payan labeling it "unacceptable" and expressing his concern about the club being "covered in shame". Despite this, Marseille proceeded with the signing and Greenwood has since scored 47 times in 74 appearances across all competitions. De Zerbi's comments supporting Greenwood were made before a Champions League game against Newcastle in November, which have now become a point of contention among Spurs fans.
Roberto de Zerbi, Tottenham manager, 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. 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."
Roberto de Zerbi’s appointment as Tottenham head coach is facing significant opposition due to his controversial support for Mason Greenwood. As he steps into his new role amidst this backlash from fan groups, only time will tell how he navigates these challenges while leading Spurs on their Premier League journey.
