Daily Mail

Tottenham Hotspur refused to let Kanye West perform at its stadium in light of his record of anti-semitism and the club's historic Jewish links.

The disgraced rapper was instead booked by Wireless Festival, which is facing a furious backlash that has so far seen two major sponsors pull out.

Pepsi announced on Sunday morning it was withdrawing its sponsorship in protest against Kanye headlining, and Diageo, the owner of Guinness, Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan, followed suit hours later.

Keir Starmer, meanwhile, has called the booking 'deeply concerning' given the rapper's previous 'antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism' - and there is speculation he might be blocked from entering the country at all.

Now, it has emerged that Kanye's team approached the north London football club about playing its stadium, before they considered Wireless.

A source told The Sun: 'As part of his big music comeback, they thought he warranted a headline run of shows and chose the Tottenham stadium as their venue of choice.

'But when they approached Tottenham with their proposal, the club rejected it.

'There was no way they would allow Kanye to perform at the club given its history with the Jewish community.'

These failed negotiations are said to have unfolded before the Kayne's entourage made an offer to Wireless, which was accepted.

He is currently down to headline all three nights of the festival in Finsbury Park, north London, on July 10, 11 and 12.

But its organisers are facing a growing storm of criticism, and intense pressure to strike him off the line-up.

Before pulling out, Pepsi was the festival's primary sponsor, with the full title listed on the website as 'Pepsi presents Wireless'.

But on Sunday morning, it released a statement saying: 'Pepsi has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival.'

Diageo was another key partner, but has also washed its hands of the event as things stand, saying: 'We have informed the organisers of our concerns and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival.'

Remaining sponsors, including AB InBev, owner of Budweiser, and PayPal, have yet to comment on their involvement in light of Kanye being unveiled.

West incited worldwide condemnation after developing a foul habit of anti-semitism. He unleashed several hate-filled rants on social media, in which he identified himself as a Nazi, and last year released a song called Heil Hitler.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey called on the Government to ban Kanye West from the UK, insisting we 'need to get tougher on anti-semitism'.

The power to ban the rapper from entering the country rests with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Under UK immigration rules, a person can be denied entry based on their character, conduct or associations when these could threaten the British public.

This can include opinions that 'foster hatred which might lead to inter-community violence in the UK'.

Sir Keir told The Sun on Sunday: 'It is deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous anti-semitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.

'Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly whatever it appears.

'Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure.'

The Jewish Leadership Council similarly slated Wireless festival for booking the musician - and said the decision was 'deeply irresponsible'.

Tottenham Hotspur declined to comment.

The Daily Mail has contacted Wireless Festival for comment.

Former Tottenham favourite Victor Wanyama is backing Roberto De Zerbi to not only save his old side from relegation but turn them into a competitive force once again.

Wanyama announced his retirement from football on Friday to focus on a coaching career and says he has followed de Zerbi since the Italian's days at Sassuolo.

'I have studied him closely. Everywhere he has gone he has improved teams,' says Wanyama. 'I've long admired De Zerbi since I noticed what he was doing with Sassuolo. Look at Shakhtar, Brighton and Marseille. He changes sides, he moulds them so they're not just survivors, they're competitors.

'I firmly believe he is the right man for Tottenham. He can keep them up, 100 per cent.

'He may need to compromise principles at first, but he is very experienced, he knows what is missing and what is necessary.'

How Tottenham could do with a midfield enforcer in Wanyama's mould today.

The 34-year-old had a big impact on Mauricio Pochettino's side during his time at the old White Hart Lane until injuring his knee in a pre-season friendly at Wembley and aggravating it against Chelsea weeks later. The initial cartilage damage and bone bruising ruled him out for four months and his physical style meant he had to manage the wear and tear throughout his career.

'It's been difficult for the coaches at Tottenham this season because of the amount of injuries they have had. They have had 10 to 15 players out at different times and that certainly didn't help,' says Wanyama.

'The club has tried different approaches but it's tough when you don't have all the squad back together.

'If they can get Kudus, Maddison and Bentancur back they can play a big part in turning it around. Also getting Solanke back into a rhythm. It will make them much more solid as a unit when they have that threat.'

Wanyama was in London to see Spurs lose to Liverpool in December but will throw his support behind them again as he plans to take in more games as the season reaches its nail-biting finale for supporters.

He regards his time at Spurs among the fondest of his career. Although a highlight remains becoming the first Kenyan to score in the Champions League, when he netted for Celtic in a famous win over Barcelona, he pinpoints making the final in Madrid with Pochettino's side and scoring one of the last goals at White Hart Lane as career highlights - as well as forming a great bond playing alongside another former Spurs favourite Mousa Dembele.

'I still keep in touch with some of the medical staff at Spurs and people who work in the offices,' says Wanyama from his home in Nairobi. 'Hopefully, I'll be over for the Brighton game to support them.'

Next for Wanyama is his own coaching career. The attrition on his knee had meant, between games, his last few seasons at Montreal and Dunfermline Athletic were punctuated with remedies of ice treatment, rest and anti-inflammatories.

'I've been managing it for some time and it was time to walk away, not to stress any more. I had to go through a lot of pain over the years because of the position I play and how I like to play with physicality. Now I can't wait to learn.'

Wanyama completed his UEFA B badge last year in Northern Ireland, doing his course alongside the likes of former Arsenal keeper Vito Mannone, ex-Sheffield Wednesday stopper David Stockdale and Jos Hooiveld, the former Southampton centre back.

He's working towards his A badge and has already spoken to clubs in London as he looks to break through as a coach at academy level first.

'I have my foundation here in Nairobi where I still work with young people and I'm training every day.

'I see working with the younger generation as the initial way forward for me then we will see.

'My dream is to coach in Europe. That has to be my goal.'

Maybe Spurs will welcome Wanyama's return to the touchline sooner than they think. And at least he is convinced that if that day comes, they will be in the Premier League.

New Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi has insisted he 'never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women' after a backlash from fans over his previous comments regarding Mason Greenwood.

In his first club interview following his appointment earlier this week, De Zerbi was invited to respond to fans who have concerns over comments he made while Marseille boss when coaching Greenwood.

Greenwood had joined Marseille in the summer of 2024 from Manchester United, 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 denied all charges.

De Zerbi defended Greenwood following his move and stoked further controversy in November 2025 as Greenwood prepared for his first match on English soil since leaving Man United as a loanee two seasons earlier.

'He's a good guy, he paid a heavy price for what happened, a very heavy price,' De Zerbi had 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, speaking in his native Italian, addressed Tottenham fans' concerns over the remarks by saying: 'I have never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women or violence against anyone more broadly.

‘In my life, I've always stood up for those who are more vulnerable, more fragile. I've consistently fought and taken a stand to be on the side of those who are most at risk.

‘Those of you who know me well will know that I'm not the kind of person who makes compromises to win more games or to win an extra title.

‘I'm sorry if I offended anyone's feelings with this subject matter - I have a daughter and I'm very sensitive to these things, and I always have been.

‘I hope that over time people will get to know me better and will understand that at that moment I didn't mean to take a stance.’

Minutes after De Zerbi's appointment was confirmed on Tuesday, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust issued a statement stating it raises 'serious and far-reaching concerns' and added it had expressed concerns from fans to the club.

In a statement, the THST had 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.

'The Club must reassert its commitment to the values that fans hold dear - chief among them equality, respect, and integrity. Any perceived sympathy toward alleged perpetrators of physical or sexual violence against women fundamentally undermines trust in the custodianship of this Club.'

The THST had called for De Zerbi and the club to 'clearly and unequivocally reaffirm these values' in their communication, along with this being backed by 'meaningful action, including visible and sustained support for women’s charities and organisations working to combat violence against women.'

Supporters groups Women of the Lane, Proud Lilywhites, and Spurs Reach had launched a 'No to Roberto De Zerbi campaign' after Tottenham's pursuit of the coach had emerged last week.

De Zerbi takes charge with Tottenham one point above the relegation zone, with the Italian facing a crunch seven game spell to preserve their Premier League status.

The 46-year-old insisted he will Tottenham manager next season 'no matter what', citing his five-year contract as a sign of his commitment.

De Zerbi stated that the role was 'the most important challenge in my career'.

'I think in this moment, we have no time to work too much on more principles, but we have to know what we have to do on the pitch,' he added.

'We have to have a good organisation on the pitch, with the ball, without the ball. We have to consider the qualities of the players.

'We are lucky, I am lucky because I have big players with big talent and my work is to help the players to show their qualities.'

De Zerbi will take charge for the first time when Tottenham face Sunderland away on April 12, while his first home game is against his former club Brighton on April 18.

It’s official - Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their new manager, with the Italian taking charge effective immediately.

De Zerbi inked a five-year deal reportedly worth around £12 million a year, making him the second-highest-paid manager behind Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola.

His appointment follows the club’s decision to part ways with Igor Tudor on Sunday, just 44 days into his tenure.

De Zerbi takes over at a particularly turbulent time for Spurs, with the north London side sitting just one point above the relegation zone and still without a league win this calendar year - the only team yet to secure one.

De Zerbi's first game in charge will be against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on April 12.

For those who will be following his journey as Spurs boss closely, Sky Bet have launched a number of Roberto De Zerbi Tottenham Specials, which can be found below.

Roberto De Zerbi Tottenham Specials

Tottenham to make 1+ first team signings from Brighton in the 2026 summer Transfer Window

Tottenham to score 6+ goals in their next 3 matches (vs Sunderland, Brighton & Wolves)

Tottenham to concede 6+ goals in their next 3 matches (vs Sunderland, Brighton & Wolves)

Roberto De Zerbi to win 0 games in his first 3 matches in charge of Tottenham

Roberto De Zerbi to leave his position as Tottenham manager before 22/08/2026

Roberto De Zerbi to be booked vs Brighton (18/04/2026)

Tottenham to score 8+ goals in their next 3 matches (vs Sunderland, Brighton & Wolves)

Tottenham not to win any of their 7 remaining league games this season

Tottenham to avoid relegation & to win a trophy in the 2026/27 season

Tottenham to concede 8+ goals in their next 3 matches (vs Sunderland, Brighton & Wolves)

Roberto De Zerbi to win each of his first 3 matches in charge of Tottenham

Roberto De Zerbi to lose each of his first 3 matches in charge of Tottenham

Tottenham to score 10+ goals in their next 3 matches (vs Sunderland, Brighton & Wolves)

What Tottenham fans can expect from Roberto De Zerbi: High-octane, high-risk football, boardroom battles, a 'magnetic' personality

Roberto de Zerbi has been confirmed as Tottenham’s new boss, signing a five-year deal with no relegation clause.

Spurs, who are perilously floating just a point above the relegation zone with seven games to go, sacked Igor Tudor on Sunday just 44 days after the interim manager arrived in north London.

Former Brighton boss De Zerbi had been available since his exit from Marseille in February and was understood to have been reluctant to take the Spurs job immediately, preferring to join the club in the summer.

However, Spurs have been successful in persuading the Italian to join the relegation-threatened club immediately, offering both a five-year deal and a huge salary only topped by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola in the Premier League.

De Zerbi will work under the title of head coach and promised fans he would strive to deliver football to excite them.

As part of Tottenham's official announcement on the club website, the 46-year-old Italian said: 'I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world.

'In all my discussions with the club's leadership, their ambition for the future has been clear – to build a team capable of reaching great achievements, and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters.

'I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it.

'Our short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which will be the complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season.

'I'm looking forward to getting out on the training pitch and working with these players to achieve that.'

Johan Lange, Tottenham's sporting director, added: 'Roberto was our number one target for the summer and we are very pleased to be able to bring him in now.

'He is one of the most creative and forward-thinking coaches in world football, and brings with him a wealth of experience at the highest level, including in the Premier League.'

De Zerbi’s first job is to evade relegation from the Premier League, and his first game is against Sunderland on Sunday week.

Spurs head into the final seven games of the season in 17th place, a mere point ahead of West Ham United and two points behind Nottingham Forest, who comprehensively beat them 3-0 prior to the international break.

Minutes after De Zerbi's appointment was confirmed, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust issued a statement stating it raises 'serious and far-reaching concerns' and added it had expressed concerns from fans to the club.

The THST cited De Zerbi's previous comments about Mason Greenwood, who was signed and played for the Italian during his time at Marseille.

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 denied all charges.

De Zerbi defended Greenwood following his move and stoked further controversy in November 2025 as Greenwood prepared for his first match on English soil since leaving Man United as a loanee two seasons earlier.

'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.'

In a statement, the THST 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.

'The Club must reassert its commitment to the values that fans hold dear—chief among them equality, respect, and integrity. Any perceived sympathy toward 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.'

The THST added that its preference would have been for a short-term appointment to lead the fight against relegation, with a view to assessing a wider pool of candidates in the summer.

Supporters groups Women of the Lane, Proud Lilywhites, and Spurs Reach had launched a 'No to Roberto De Zerbi campaign' in recent days after Tottenham's pursuit of the coach emerged.

Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood was among those with concerns over the appointment on Monday, sharing his doubts on whether the combustible Italian is the 'safe pair of hands' needed to swerve relegation.

'For anyone going in now, you have to put a question mark on it because you've only got seven games left,' Sherwood told Sky Sports.

'I like him, I really do. I like his personality. I said many months ago that he would be the man to come into Tottenham.

'I would've picked him over Mauricio Pochettino for the long term because he plays that style that Tottenham fans want to play. He opens up the pitch, but not now. That style is not needed now, what they need now is a safe pair of hands. This is far from a safe pair of hands.'

Shortly after the appointment was confirmed, Sherwood reacted to the news on social media platform Peek, wishing luck to the Italian.

He said: 'I've seen head coach mentioned and I've seen manager. He has to be the manager. You have to control the footballing side.

'You cannot trust the people who are there at the moment to do the recruitment or anything regarding the footballing side. You have to do it yourself. Good luck mate.'

Roberto De Zerbi is closing in on becoming the new Tottenham boss, but an incident from three years ago when he was Brighton manager almost scuppered his chances.

Back in April 2023 during a Premier League match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium between Spurs and Brighton, De Zerbi was involved in a furious touchline row with Cristian Stellini, the hosts' interim head coach at the time.

Their original clash came pre-match before a skirmish involving both benches early in the second half led to the two Italian coaches being handed red cards.

Daily Mail Sport understands that when Thomas Frank was sacked in February, there were sources at Spurs making it clear they were not interested in De Zerbi in the slightest, and for multiple reasons.

One of these was the fact they were put off by his notoriety as an incendiary character as laid bare by that visit of his Brighton team three years ago.

On that occasion, De Zerbi’s finger jabbing and jibes sparked a row with Stellini as tension bubbled at the pre-match handshake after comments in the build-up to the game.

De Zerbi is thought to have taken offence to Stellini saying Brighton's good form was a result of him simply carrying on the good work of his predecessor Graham Potter.

Potter had left the club the previous September to join Chelsea.

'They came from a good [manager] with Graham Potter for a long time,' Stellini said. 'I think Roberto De Zerbi has found a good solution to play with this style because with Potter the players know themselves very well.

'This is a great opportunity because when players play for a long time with each other it is easier.'

De Zerbi later said: 'Yes (I felt disrespected). It's a personal situation. I told him what was my opinion, my idea, not bad words, only my opinion.

'I'm used to always respecting everyone inside and outside of the pitch. I don't like it when people don't respect me.

'But there are normal situations in football. It's personal things. I always respect everyone, especially the coaches. I can answer for me, not for him.'

Following the melee in the second period, both De Zerbi and Stellini were then dismissed, although the Spurs boss was keen to play down the carnage and clash post-match.

'Sometimes when we speak Italian people seem aggressive,' he told Sky Sports. 'We were not aggressive. I don't want to speak about other managers.

'This is only the second game I'm a head coach. I want to respect every manager. What happened on the pitch, stays on the pitch.'

On his sending off, he added: 'I didn't say anything. I tried to keep calm. I am the head coach and have to respect the decision. Our team used the situation to create energy, that's because it helped us.'

Spurs won the game 2-1, but three years later De Zerbi is now set to be in the opposite dugout despite those initial concerns from the club's hierarchy.

Let’s not pretend the late swerve for Roberto De Zerbi is any sort of triumph for Tottenham’s incredible powers of persuasion.

Yes, they have convinced the Italian to take charge now when he was reluctant. He had made it clear he would prefer to start his next job in pre-season, a time when it is invariably more sensible to start than with the fuse lit on a season in meltdown.

Something has changed his mind. And if it isn’t simply the result of a month recharging his batteries or an attractive salary set to propel him into the bracket of top earning coaches in world football, it will probably have something to do with the recruitment demands and the power at his disposal with the situation as it is.

From the Spurs angle, though, the appointment represents a seismic U-turn for a head coach they have chosen to overlook at various points during the last 12 months.

They opted for Thomas Frank last summer ahead of De Zerbi, who was then at Marseille but no less approachable than the Brentford boss.

They then stuck with Frank when Fabio Paratici, the Italian sporting director who left Spurs for Fiorentina at the start of February, lobbied internally for a change of head coach before Christmas, and was apparently confident of prising De Zerbi out of the French club.

Then they overlooked him again when appointing Igor Tudor in February although by this time De Zerbi had parted with Marseille and was already talking about the need to take a break.

Most pertinently, when Tudor arrived to replace Frank, there were sources at Spurs making it clear they were not interested in De Zerbi in the slightest, and for two reasons.

Firstly, they were put off by his notoriety as an incendiary character as laid bare by the visit of his Brighton team to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium three years ago.

It was an occasion when De Zerbi’s finger jabbing and jibes sparked a row with interim Spurs boss Cristian Stellini which ended in an unseemly touchline skirmish involving both benches and red cards for the two Italian coaches.

Secondly, and more recently, there were people at Spurs very uncomfortable with De Zerbi’s part in helping Mason Greenwood to restore his reputation at Marseille after the striker left Manchester United in disgrace despite charges of attempted rape and assault being dropped.

When they were together in France, De Zerbi described Greenwood as ‘a good guy’ who ‘paid a heavy price’.

Last week, three Spurs fan groups - Proud Lilywhites, Women of the Lane and Spurs Reach - registered their opposition to the idea the Italian might soon be bringing those views to their club, claiming his comments had raised ‘serious questions about judgment and leadership’.

If Spurs have abandoned their morals while slamming on the handbrake and screeching off in a different direction it is a decision, no doubt, fuelled by sheer desperation.

'Those are my principles and if you don’t like them, well, I have others,' as Groucho Marx said.

Needs-must. The ignominy of relegation beckons. They will slide into the Premier League’s bottom three if West Ham beat Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday week, two days before they play again at Sunderland.

What are a few principles compared to the millions that will be lost if they end up in the Championship? Really, who cares about the moral high ground just so long as it’s not the relegation swamp?

So, De Zerbi it is. Another hire carrying the fingerprints of Paratici, who appears no less influential at Spurs today than he did before his exit on February 5, nor during his 30-month worldwide ban for his part in financial irregularities during his time at Juventus.

His lingering influence will invite further scrutiny upon the leadership team of chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange, who have fired and hired two head coaches in less than two months since Paratici left London and failed to come up with a candidate they might call their own.

None of this bodes particularly well for the future of Spurs under the regime installed since chairman Daniel Levy was ousted in September.

Lange’s position looks particularly vulnerable as Spurs step up their search for a successor to Paratici.

Lange, a Dane closely aligned with Frank, is a sporting director with his eyes most closely trained on data and emerging talent while Paratici, who had the same title during his latest spell at Spurs, was prized for his network of contacts and a knack for closing a deal.

There will be changes as the club restructure and reinforce their executive tier in the months ahead.

In the short term, however, De Zerbi certainly will boost their chances of survival. And when push comes to shove that is what the bulk of supporters care most about.

He is a strong leader, who takes no nonsense from his players.

Unlike Frank, the style of football he likes to play is unashamedly expansive and aggressive. Unlike Tudor, he should be tuned in to the demands of the Premier League.

He spent the best part of two seasons at Brighton, replacing Graham Potter and finishing sixth, and leading the club’s inaugural European campaign before leaving in May 2024 amid tensions over recruitment.

De Zerbi’s Brighton were quick, fearless and exciting to watch. Seldom boring, which should appeal in N17.

Although Brighton, like Brentford, are one of those modern clubs so well run that it is often difficult to figure out exactly what part of the success is down to the head coach and how much down to the data and algorithms of Tony Bloom and Matthew Benham driving recruitment and performance.

De Zerbi though has enough on his CV to support his ability. Success in Italy and Ukraine, and a good year at Marseille, finishing last season as runners-up, 19 points behind European champions Paris Saint-Germain.

So, leave your morals at the door as Spurs shift from the plan for another Tudoresque interim towards a long-term appointment.

The dream return for Mauricio Pochettino, who remains committed to the United States until after this summer’s World Cup, will have to be shelved yet again.

At least the Spurs crowd will have someone to sing for if they find it all goes awry once again under De Zerbi.

Tottenham want Roberto De Zerbi to take over as their manager immediately and are making moves to convince the former Marseille and Brighton boss to save them from relegation.

De Zerbi is the North London club's No 1 target as they look to avoid relegation disaster amid a torrid season in which Tudor and Thomas Frank have been dismissed as head coach.

Former Brighton boss De Zerbi has been available since his exit from Marseille in February and was understood to have been reluctant to take the Spurs job immediately, preferring to join the club in the summer.

However, the 46-year-old is now open to joining Tottenham as soon as possible.

Tottenham risk upsetting their fanbase should they appoint De Zerbi, with supporters launching a 'No To De Zerbi' campaign on Friday night owing to his backing of former Man United star Mason Greenwood.

De Zerbi brought Greenwood to Marseille, prompting backlash from the French fanbase owing to the 24-year-old's arrest on suspicion of rape, assault and coercive and controlling behaviour in 2024. The CPS later dropped the charges against him.

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'.

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.

'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.'

Tottenham are trying to convince Roberto De Zerbi to become their new manager before the end of the season after sacking Igor Tudor - with one contender appearing to rule himself out as the club consider a sensational move for Glenn Hoddle.

Spurs are searching for their fourth head coach in 295 days after Tudor's exit and De Zerbi, who has been linked with the Manchester United job, is among the top candidates.

The Italian, 46, has drawn objections from some sections of supporters for his role in rebuilding Mason Greenwood's reputation at Marseille and is keen to wait until the summer.

But Spurs are attempting to persuade the ex-Brighton and Marseille manager to take the job now, and it remains a possibility.

One contender who appears to have already ruled themselves out of consideration is former Monaco boss Adi Hutter.

Speaking to Sky Sports Austria, he said: 'In the last few days and weeks, I have been increasingly linked with various clubs.

'However, as I already said immediately after my time at Monaco, I fundamentally want to work as a head coach again at the beginning of the new season at the earliest. My stance on this topic has not changed since then.'

Tottenham are looking for someone to take over immediately and be in position for their game against Sunderland on Sunday - and could turn to Hoddle in what would be a remarkable move.

Hoddle, 68, has not managed for nearly 20 years, but Spurs have spent a week exploring options since the punishing defeat by Nottingham Forest deepened relegation fears.

Sean Dyche leads the betting but has distanced himself from the role.

Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange will be wary of options from the same mould as Tudor, who was unfamiliar with the club or English football, although there had been contact with Hutter.

Austrian Hutter, 56, has coached the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Monchengladbach, while he left Monaco last year after two years in charge.

Under Tudor, who had previously been in charge of Juventus, Spurs picked up only one point from five Premier League games since replacing Thomas Frank and crashed out of the Champions League.

Hoddle has made clear he is willing to help, as have others who managed the club in the past, including Tim Sherwood and Harry Redknapp.

Others with a Spurs background and more recent coaching experience including Chris Hughton and Ryan Mason are out of work and have been linked.

Spurs are also reluctant to commit to a new boss on a long-term deal because they want to select from an open field in the summer, which would include former favourite Mauricio Pochettino, who is committed to the United States until after the World Cup.

Hoddle is recognised as one the greatest Spurs players of all time and managed them for two and a half years from March 2001.

He has not managed since leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2006, although he was briefly part of Redknapp's coaching team at Queens Park Rangers.

Since leaving QPR in 2015, he has spent most of his time in football working on TV as a co-commentator and pundit on TNT Sports and suffered a heart attack in 2018.

Igor Tudor’s time at Tottenham is over after just 44 days and the search for a fourth head coach in the last 12 months is under way.

Interim assistant Bruno Saltor will take care of training in the days ahead and Spurs, having confirmed Tudor’s exit on Sunday intend to have a new boss in place by the time the full squad returns from international duty later this week.

Tudor was appointed as interim head coach on Valentine’s Day to replace Thomas Frank who was sacked three days earlier, but Spurs have taken only one point from his five Premier League games in charge and crashed out of the Champions League.

They scored nine goals in those seven games and conceded 20.

His short tenure started badly with a 4-1 home defeat against Arsenal after which Tudor confessed the problems were far worse than he had anticipated, because of the injury pile-up and its impact on physical condition and morale.

Then came a poor performance in a defeat at Fulham and a first-half shambles in what was a key home fixture against Crystal Palace.

Spurs took the lead through Dominic Solanke in the 34th minute only to collapse when vice captain Micky van de Ven was sent off four minutes later for a foul that conceded a penalty.

Palace equalised from the spot and quickly scored two more before half time as 10-man Spurs hit the self-destruct button, something which has become a worrying trend during this high-stress period of the season.

Something similar happened in the opening 15 minutes of the first leg of the Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid.

Tudor selected Antonin Kinsky in goal to give Guglielmo Vicario a break but Kinsky made two costly slips in the opening 15 minutes and was substituted with Spurs 3-0 down.

Spurs went 4-0 down before they rallied and lost 5-2, a deficit too big to turn around despite victory in the second leg.

That will go down Tudor’s only win and it is ironic that it was inspired by two Xavi Simons goals.

Simons has been the only creative spark since the turn of the year but was used sparingly by Tudor after contributing little from a position wide on the left in a 4-4-2 formation at Fulham.

The Atletico dead-rubber win together with a late equaliser in the previous game, a 1-1 draw at Liverpool, offered some hope but it vanished against Nottingham Forest.

Like the Palace game, the Forest showdown was billed as must-win in the survival fight. As against Palace, there was a big build up and Spurs flickered with promise but ultimately went under and conceded another three goals at home.

They have been far too easy to score against and Tudor, like Frank and other predecessors, has been unable to strike the perfect balance between protecting one goal while threatening the other with this group of players.

The problems at Spurs run deeper than the head coach, nevertheless the Forest defeat would prove the final act of the short Tudor era in N17.

It ended with profound personal sadness as the 47-year-old Croatian was informed of the death of his father Mario straight after the final whistle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

There was great sympathy from all connected with the club as he left London but his spell in charge has been short and sour and will be remembered with no great fondness.

Players railed against Tudor’s surly brand of passive aggression, which spilled into his media duties where he had a habit of tutting disapprovingly at questions he didn’t like and glaring at inquisitors.

Fans, like everyone else, have been bemused by wild deviations in his tactical plans from a back three to a back four, with one, two or three up front, players out of position and expensive signings such as Simons and Conor Gallagher regularly cast aside.

His trusted assistant Ivan Javorcic ran into work permit complications and was unable to join him at Spurs.

Maybe the last six weeks would have been different with Javorcic at his side but as it turned out there was nothing Tudor could do to arrest the slide in the short time available.

Spurs remain deep in a rut of relegation form. They have not won any of their last 13 Premier League games, taking only five points from 39 available in 2026. They sit on 30 points, with bitter rivals West Ham are 18th on 29 points - with both teams having seven games left.

Their first game back is a trip to Sunderland (April 12) before ending the month with a home match against Brighton (April 18) and then travelling to Wolves (April 25).

Their May begins with a trip to Champions League chasing Aston Villa (May 2) before a home encounter with Leeds (May 9). They then make the short trip across to west London to face bitter rivals Chelsea (May 17) before ending the season at home to Everton (May 24).

With seven games to play, the only priority is to stay up. An escape they will attempt without Tudor.

If Tottenham were to get relegated it would be the first time they have dropped down from the top flight since 1977.

Goalkeeping coach Tomislav Rogic and fitness coach Riccardo Ragnacci leave with him. The end of an error, some might say.