Tottenham 'consider action' as Arsenal-supporting staff member mocks club online
Tottenham Hotspur have been left deeply unimpressed and are reportedly considering disciplinary action after a newly appointed member of staff, who is a known Arsenal supporter, made jokes mocking the club on social media. The incident involves Neros Coachman, who recently joined Spurs as an academy scout but openly declared his allegiance to their North London rivals.
Social media posts spark controversy
Coachman announced his new role at Tottenham on Instagram, writing in a post: "Its official. I'm now here, I sat and had the conversation and the project was exciting to say the least. Now looking forward to getting the new set of superstars to the club. You know the projects good when your a boyhood Arsenal fan and you switch sides." However, it was the comments section that ignited the controversy.
In response to a comment stating "Do not let that badge touch your skin," Coachman replied: "I've already got the base layer." When another user remarked "We need someone on the inside," he responded with "shhhhh." He also acknowledged a picture of a snake posted by a commenter, saying: "I know, I know, it’s deserved haha."
Fan backlash and club response
Tottenham fans quickly noticed these exchanges and shared them widely on social media platform X. A post by The Spurs Express, viewed nearly 500,000 times, criticised the behaviour as "quite bizarre" and "not particularly befitting" for a club employee. According to reports from The Daily Mail, Tottenham's hierarchy are "deeply unimpressed" and are evaluating potential action against Coachman.
In response to the growing backlash, Coachman made his Instagram account private and posted on his Instagram story: "This is wild. Yes I'm and Arsenal Fan And yes I was joking with friends. As an arsenal fan of course I was joking about with friends regarding putting on a spurs kit.." Despite this explanation, the damage appears to have been done, with the club taking the matter seriously.
Context of Tottenham's difficult season
This controversy comes at a particularly challenging time for Tottenham, who are enduring a miserable season in the Premier League. The team currently sits 16th in the table, just four points above the relegation zone, and has not won in their last ten league matches. They recently suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Arsenal, adding salt to the wound.
Manager Igor Tudor, who replaced Thomas Frank, has started his tenure with back-to-back defeats in the Premier League. Tottenham are set to host Crystal Palace in an upcoming league match before turning their attention to the Champions League last 16, where they will face Atletico Madrid in the first leg. The timing of Coachman's remarks has only exacerbated tensions within the club and among its supporters.
The situation highlights the sensitive nature of rivalries in football and the expectations placed on staff members to uphold professional standards, regardless of personal allegiances. Tottenham's consideration of action underscores their commitment to maintaining club integrity during a turbulent period.
