I want to be absolutely clear from the outset: I do not support violence against women, discrimination, or any attempt to minimize the seriousness of abuse. That is not who I am, and it is not who we are as a supporters club.
But the reaction to Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment has exposed something uncomfortable about modern football culture — and, frankly, about society. We’ve reached a point where people are so quick to condemn, to label, to divide, that any sense of proportion or consistency disappears. Everything becomes a purity test, and no one can pass it.
Let’s deal with the facts.
Marseille signed Greenwood — not Spurs.
De Zerbi didn’t sign him. The club he worked for made that decision. And we are not signing Greenwood now. Yet somehow De Zerbi is being treated as if he personally committed the offense.
As The Times put it:
“Nobody is defending Greenwood’s alleged actions, or downplaying the seriousness of the original accusation. De Zerbi, however, has committed no crime beyond remaining faithful to the idea of second chances.”
That’s the truth. And the outrage becomes even harder to take when some of the same people condemning De Zerbi are the ones who still idolize Gazza — a man with a documented history of domestic violence. Selective morality is still selective, even if he was a genius on the pitch.
Greenwood is, in my view, a contemptible individual. But he reconciled with his partner, they remain together, and they’ve built a family. You can acknowledge that reality without endorsing him. You can condemn the behavior while recognizing that life is more complicated than social‑media outrage allows.
Now, let me be clear about something else:
I don’t like the appointment of De Zerbi either — but for footballing reasons.
He feels like yet another underwhelming, uninspired choice in a long line of managers we seem to convince ourselves will be “the one.” My issue with him has nothing to do with Marseille, Greenwood, or moral grandstanding. It’s simply that he’s another disappointing nonentity we’ve talked ourselves into.
And here’s the real point I’m making:
You can support a country, a club, or an institution without supporting every individual associated with it.
America is, in my view, horrible because of Donald Trump — but it is still possible to support America without supporting him. The same principle applies here. You can support Spurs without agreeing with every decision the club makes. You can support the idea of second chances without excusing the original wrongdoing.
De Zerbi supported a second chance for a player. That is not a crime. That is loyalty to the organization he worked for. And loyalty is something we, as supporters, claim to value.
For once, can we just SHUT THE FUCK UP and get out of our own way and focus on keeping Premier League football at White Hart Lane — or whatever we’re calling it now.
GET OUT OF THE WAY
