Source:REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, three official Tottenham fan groups — Proud Lilywhites, Women of the Lane, and Spurs Reach — have issued a joint statement calling on the club not to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as its new manager, citing his public support for Mason Greenwood. During his previous tenure as Marseille head coach, De Zerbi publicly supported Greenwood on multiple occasions. Greenwood has not played for Manchester United since his arrest in January 2022 on domestic violence charges. In its statement, Proud Lilywhites reminded the club that Tottenham has a responsibility to set standards: “When a manager publicly defends a player like Mason Greenwood and frames his comments in a way that seeks to downplay the seriousness of the incident, it is not just about the incident itself — it is about the message it sends.” Although Tottenham have been actively pursuing him, De Zerbi currently appears inclined to wait until the summer before returning to management.
The editor believes that De Zerbi’s comments, including publicly defending Greenwood and explaining the context amid serious allegations, have been widely criticized for downplaying the severity of violence against women. Regardless of his intentions, such remarks risk normalizing harmful attitudes, diminishing the experiences of victims, and sending a deeply worrying message about what is deemed acceptable within football.