Tottenham supporters groups Women of the Lane, Proud Lilywhites, and Spurs Reach have shared statements calling upon the club not to hire former Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi should they take the decision to sack interim manager Igor Tudor.
The embattled Croatian has won just one match – a Pyrrhic second-leg victory against Atletico Madrid – since taking over in north London, and this week has taken leave following the tragic passing of his late father Mario.
Speculation has been rife that amid a testing relegation battle, Tudor could yet be replaced, with ex-Brighton manager De Zerbi one of those most closely associated with the potential job.
But fan groups have united in a ‘No to Roberto De Zerbi campaign’, pointing at the manager’s staunch defense of his former player Mason Greenwood as evidence that the club could damage their culture.
Former Manchester United star Greenwood moved to Marseille in 2024, two years after he was arrested on suspicion of rape, assault, and coercive and controlling behaviour. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges the following year, citing the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light. He has denied all charges.
In his capacity as head coach, De Zerbi defended his player in the wake of his move to the French Riviera, with an attitude which the supporters groups have described as ‘downplaying the seriousness of violence against women and girls’.
Tottenham supporters groups have shared statements calling on their club not to hire former Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi
Choosing De Zerbi, Women of the Lane said in their statement, ‘raises serious questions about judgement and leadership.’
‘Clubs signal their values through the decisions they make,’ the statement read. ‘Who they appoint matters. The manager sets the tone, every day, for what is expected, what is tolerated, and how people are treated.
‘At a time when Spurs needs to rebuild, that culture matters as much as anything on the pitch.
‘For many in our community, this is difficult to reconcile with the club’s stated commitments to respect, safety and inclusion. This is not an appointment Tottenham Hotspur should make. It introduces unnecessary cultural risk without a clear, proven track record to justify it.’
Proud Lilywhites added that the club has the responsibility to ‘shape how people feel, who feels welcome, and what behaviour is seen as acceptable’ with the manager playing ‘a huge role’ in that culture.
‘When someone in that position publicly defends a player like Mason Greenwood, and frames it in a way that downplays the seriousness of what happened, it matters, not just in isolation but in what it signals,’ the statement continued. ‘We are proud of the progress that’s been made in making football more inclusive and welcoming.
‘That progress matters, and it cannot be compromised or treated as secondary. We are not asking for perfection. We are asking for accountability, transparency, and leadership that reflects the values this club claims to stand for.
‘All together, always. That has to mean something. No to De Zerbi.’
Spurs Reach’s statement added: ‘Comments previously attributed to Roberto De Zerbi, including public remarks defending and contextualising Mason Greenwood following serious allegations have been widely criticised for appearing to minimise the gravity of violence against women.
The Italian manager has staunchly defender his former player at Marseille Mason Greenwood
‘Regardless of intent, framing of this nature risks normalising harmful attitudes, diminishing the experiences of survivors, and sending a deeply concerning message about what is tolerated within the game.’
De Zerbi stoked controversy in November 2025 as Greenwood prepared for his first match on English soil since leaving Man United as a loanee two seasons earlier by saying that his player was a ‘good guy’ who had paid a ‘heavy price’ for the domestic abuse allegations.
‘He’s a good guy, he paid a heavy price for what happened, a very heavy price,’ De Zerbi said. ‘He has found the right environment for him.
‘We have lent him a hand and given him affection. He’s a little bit introverted but I know him and his family. It saddens me what happened in his life, because I know a totally different person than the one who was described in England.’
De Zerbi had pushed for Marseille to sign Greenwood despite protests from fan groups associated with the Ligue 1 side, and vocal opposition from the city’s mayor.
Benoit Payan, mayor of Marseille, opposed the signing, insisting that he does not want the club ‘shamed by someone who hits his wife’.
After Greenwood scored upon his debut, De Zerbi said that he was delighted that the goal would ‘end the controversy’ over his signing.
Should De Zerbi be offered the job at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium however, the Italian is thought to be keen to wait until the summer, to see if the club have avoided the drop down to the Championship.
But Spurs may need a new saviour sooner, sitting just one point above the relegation zone, with tough tests against Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Everton before the end of the season.
