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    [Kate Mason] De Zerbi ‘didn’t mean to take a stance’ over Greenwood. That’s precisely the problem. You should, Roberto.
    Tottenham Hotspur

    [Kate Mason] De Zerbi ‘didn’t mean to take a stance’ over Greenwood. That’s precisely the problem. You should, Roberto.


    In November 2025, De Zerbi said Greenwood was a “good person” and added: “It saddens me what happened to him because I know a very different person from the one portrayed in England.”

    Football is a place of escapism. Every football fan has at some point had to choose blindness to the nastier realities of their heroes’ moral codes. One of my favourite players is Paul Gascoigne, a man with a conviction for assault and the subject of a memoir by his former wife Sheryl, subtitled “My Life Surviving Gazza”.

    I often wonder if I am letting myself off the hook by retaining that awe of Gascoigne, a product of watching and hearing about him in my earliest childhood — long before I could understand topics like these. How much better would it be if there was no need for wilful ignorance, for the suspension of morality? We can and must move towards zero tolerance on this.

    People I know and care about in the Spurs community have called, emailed, and direct-messaged me on social media about how much they’re struggling with De Zerbi’s appointment. Ali Speechly, who co-founded Women of the Lane, has spoken out beautifully about her intention to stay away until he leaves.

    One in four women in the UK has been raped or sexually assaulted as an adult. Football fans are not distinct from that group. If you’re reading this on your phone in a public place, look up: you’re almost certainly looking at someone who’s been forced to deal not only with a harrowing violation of human boundaries, but also with managing that for the rest of her life.

    by Zweli23

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    20 Comments

    3. cocopopped on

      The way people have carried on online, you’d think we’ve employed someone who’s commited an actual offence

    4. Zweli23 on

      I remember not long ago we all rightfully called out Arteta for doing the same thing to Partey, now that we’re in the same situation everyone’s switched up

    5. jojjefern on

      I think for me personally, the big difference with a situation like the Gascoigne one (never saw him play so this is only conjecture) is that the controversy came after already forming the affectionate connection.

      In todays case, already knowing about it ahead of time, it’s on my mind from the start and i will see the team through that lens going forward. Its not so much that one is less bad than another, i just have a hard time forming any connection now when i will be reminded of this every time i see the person in our dugout. 

      It’s not any moral stance or political message. It’s just a sour reminder now every time I think of the team.

      I wish you all a happy end to the season

    8. SyrupNarrow4768 on

      I think an important part of being an adult is to accept the grey in the world. If the de zerbi issue is too much for someone thats fine, we all draw the line at some point. But if that “someone” then expects the world to see this guy as a “bad” person who should be banned from his profesion…

    12. Few-Athlete8618 on

      can you fucking nerds stop whining about this?! just shut the fuck up you sad little cunts!

    14. Litmanen_10 on

      Has anybody considered Marseille’s management’s role here? Probably huge. What if they said to DZ we want this player. He’s good and we get him cheap. You will at least vaguely defend him if there’s questions asked. If you don’t we sack you and maybe even sue you for contract breachment.

      Clubs are pretty powerful. What would you do this in this kind of situation? Easy to speak behind the computer from home sofa but if you really visualize yourself in this kind of situation.

    15. yolo2546452 on

      I’m glad we have another post on this. The less we talk about it, the more complacent the fanbase gets.

    16. iqjump123 on

      There are people in both sides of the fence- people such as Kate Mason and the people she mentions, as well as people in this thread who downvoted this and don’t think this is a big “enough” deal.

      Obviously we will have a divided fan base because of this appointment.

      We also can’t say shit to Arse, and others for their immoral acts as vociferously as we did before- we are doing the same stupid shit now.

      Hate that our club went this low to stay up. I guess it was a matter of time

    17. roamingandy on

      I think Gazza is seen differently. Not excused, but the situation is different because he clearly absolutely despises himself.

      He has absolutely destroyed his life due to an addiction he can’t control.

      It doesn’t mean he hasn’t done some shit things to another human. There is a bit of sympathy there too though because the state he’s in now is pathetic. He has suffered greatly for everything he’s done, and loathes himself for it.

      What more does he deserve? What could be done that was worse than what he’s done to himself? I think only the people he’s hurt can really answer that.

      Greenwood is still getting paid a fortune in an elevated position in society as a star footballer. It appears he hasn’t had any proportional consequences at all, or have a well known addiction he’s been seeking help for most of his life for and failing to control, which isn’t an excuse, but that he has tried again and again to get help is a mitigating factor.

    18. Inevitable_Stage_627 on

      ‘Portrayed’?

      Nobody put any angle on him- the audio/ pictures we all saw did that. It wasn’t a ‘portrayal’ – that was his own behaviour!!! 😡😡😡