Roberto De Zerbi not surprised by Spurs fans’ anger over Mason Greenwood remarks

In the days before his appointment, three Spurs fan groups made clear their opposition to the 46-year-old being hired.

BIG JOB AHEAD: Roberto De Zerbi was not surprised by the backlash to his appointment as Tottenham boss over his past comments on Mason Greenwood. Pic: Nigel French/PA Wire.

Roberto De Zerbi was not surprised by the backlash to his appointment as Tottenham boss over his past comments on Mason Greenwood but has apologised again for causing offence.

In the days before his appointment, three Spurs fan groups – Proud Lilywhites, Women of the Lane and Spurs Reach – made clear their opposition to the 46-year-old being hired.

The stance was taken due to De Zerbi’s remarks when Marseille head coach about Greenwood, who faced charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2022 before they were dropped.

De Zerbi described Greenwood last year as a “good guy” who 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.”

The Italian addressed the topic during an in-house interview with Tottenham media earlier this month and faced more questions on Friday about his role in helping Greenwood resume his career at Marseille.

“I wasn’t surprised. I was a bit sad and sorry it happened, because I’m sorry if somebody took offence,” De Zerbi said when quizzed on the fan backlash.

“I must repeat what I said the other time. This topic is very close to me, I’m very sensitive about this topic, because of the person I am and because I have a daughter.

“And so I must repeat what I said the other time. I have always been against – always – any type of violence, especially against women. But not only violence – even just sexist jokes or other sexist behaviour.

“I have a daughter and I’m directly affected by it.

“I know who I am, I know the type of person I am, so I wasn’t annoyed by the questions – I’m just sad about them.” Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust stated upon De Zerbi’s appointment it had “serious and far-reaching concerns” with him being hired.

Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm over allegations relating to a woman 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 new material that came to light”, which meant there was “no realistic prospect of conviction”.

Greenwood, who denied the charges, subsequently resumed his career and joined Marseille in 2024 under De Zerbi.

Asked if he hoped fans accept his apology, De Zerbi said: “Yes, also because I’m not going to go back over this topic.

“I spoke about it in my first interview, I spoke about it today and it wouldn’t be right to go back over this topic again.”