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The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust has strongly criticised the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as the club’s head coach, expressing “serious and far-reaching concerns” over his past support for Mason Greenwood.

In a statement released soon after De Zerbi signed a five-year contract on Tuesday, the Trust said his arrival placed a “heavy strain” on unity at a time when Spurs are battling against relegation from the Premier League. It also called on Spurs and the Italian to publicly reassert their “commitment to the values that fans hold dear – chief among them equality, respect, and integrity”.

The criticism centres on De Zerbi’s spell at Marseille, where he publicly supported Greenwood’s signing despite controversy surrounding the former Manchester United player’s private life. Greenwood was charged in 2022 with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued the case in February 2023 after key witnesses withdrew their involvement and “new material came to light”. Greenwood had denied the charges.

After leaving United, Greenwood had a spell on loan at the Spanish side Getafe before joining Marseille on a permanent deal in 2024 under De Zerbi.

De Zerbi described the former England forward as a “good person” and said that “it saddens me what happened to him because I know a very different person from the one portrayed in England”.

Those remarks have been condemned by supporter groups including Proud Lilywhites – the club’s LGBTQI+ supporters’ association – and Women of the Laine. The Trust said it had contacted Spurs to voice opposition to De Zerbi before he was appointed.

“While we recognise the limited pool of managers with recent Premier League experience, and the need to act with urgency as Spurs face the prospect of relegation, this appointment raises serious and far-reaching concerns, and many fans have been in touch with us to urge us to communicate the strength of feeling,” the Trust said. “De Zerbi’s comments about Mason 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.

“We believe these statements, left unchecked, will create a divide among supporters at a time when we all need to be pulling together to back the team. It is concerning that the club would put us in this position right when the team needs fans the most. Fans are rallying behind the ‘All Together, Always’ initiative, and this appointment places heavy strain on that unity. If those remarks reflect his genuine views, they cast a troubling shadow over the values of the club we love.”

The Trust added that any perceived sympathy towards alleged perpetrators of physical or sexual violence against women “fundamentally undermines trust in the custodianship of this club”.

“With this appointment, communications from the club and from Mr De Zerbi must clearly and unequivocally reaffirm these values. Furthermore, those words must be backed by meaningful action, including visible and sustained support for women’s charities and organisations working to combat violence against women.”

Tottenham have been contacted for comment.