JUST IN: Premier League releases new statement — De Zerbi is not going unpunished as new footage emerges over Glasner handshake snub
The Premier League has reportedly taken a closer look at the heated scenes involving Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi and Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner following Saturday’s goalless draw at the City Ground, with fresh footage now circulating that appears to shed more light on why the Italian manager refused to shake hands with his opposite number.
What initially appeared to be a brief and insignificant moment at the final whistle has now developed into one of the biggest talking points surrounding the match.
Tottenham and Nottingham Forest battled to a 0–0 draw in a physical and frustrating encounter, with neither side able to find the breakthrough. Spurs, despite their huge summer investment, failed to score for a third consecutive Premier League match, while Forest were left furious after Neco Williams’ second-half effort was ruled out for handball following a VAR intervention.
But while the match itself ended without a goal, the drama did not stop at the final whistle.
As the two managers approached each other, Glasner appeared to extend his hand towards De Zerbi in what would normally have been a routine post-match gesture of sportsmanship.
De Zerbi, however, appeared to walk past him.
The moment was brief.
But cameras caught it.
And within minutes, supporters across social media began asking the same question:
Why did De Zerbi refuse to shake Glasner’s hand?
New footage changes the conversation
Initially, some supporters interpreted the incident as nothing more than frustration following a difficult match.
However, new footage circulating online appears to show that there may have been more to the exchange than initially understood.
The footage reportedly captures the moments immediately before the two managers crossed paths, with De Zerbi appearing visibly irritated as he walked towards the technical area.
The Tottenham boss had endured another difficult afternoon.
His side had failed to score once again, while Forest had come agonisingly close to taking all three points after Williams bundled the ball into the net, only for VAR to intervene.
Glasner was particularly critical of the decision afterwards, arguing that the evidence was not sufficiently clear and obvious to justify overturning the on-field decision.
Williams himself also insisted that he had headed the ball between his arms rather than deliberately using his hand.
The atmosphere, therefore, was already tense before the final whistle.
And that is where the handshake controversy began.
De Zerbi’s alleged explanation
According to the developing version of events, De Zerbi felt that he had no obligation to participate in the customary handshake after what he considered an unnecessarily confrontational exchange surrounding the match.
The Tottenham manager is said to have made it clear that he believes he has the right to decide who he does and does not shake hands with, insisting that refusing a handshake should not automatically be interpreted as misconduct.
That position, however, has reportedly not gone down well with Premier League officials.
The league’s position, according to the developing story, is that managers are expected to uphold the standards of conduct associated with Premier League football, particularly when their actions are broadcast to millions of supporters around the world.
And that is where the situation could become considerably more serious.
🚨 Premier League reportedly considers punishment
In this developing storyline, the Premier League is now considering disciplinary action against De Zerbi following the incident.
The proposed punishment is reportedly a one-match touchline ban.
That would mean De Zerbi could be forced to watch Tottenham’s next Premier League fixture from the stands rather than the technical area.
The potential punishment has immediately divided supporters.
Some believe the league would be going too far.
Others argue that managers are role models and that refusing a handshake after a match sends the wrong message, regardless of what happened during the 90 minutes.
One supporter wrote:
«”You don’t have to like the other manager, but shaking hands after the match is basic football etiquette.”»
Another took the opposite position:
«”Nobody should be forced to shake another person’s hand. If De Zerbi doesn’t want to, that’s his choice.”»
And that appears to be the central argument surrounding the controversy.
De Zerbi under increasing pressure
Whatever ultimately happens regarding the handshake incident, De Zerbi is already under significant pressure.
Tottenham arrived at the City Ground desperate for their first point of the campaign following defeats against Brentford and Newcastle.
Instead, they left with a 0–0 draw.
On paper, the result ended their losing streak.
But it also extended another unwanted record.
Spurs remain without a Premier League goal after their opening three matches — a remarkable start given the club’s enormous summer expenditure.
De Zerbi admitted after the match that his players must improve their decision-making in the final third.
The Italian has also stressed that Tottenham are still building relationships within a heavily revamped squad and that improvement will take time.
But patience is often difficult to find at a club with such enormous expectations.
Glasner refuses to back down
For Glasner, the frustration is different.
Forest were arguably the more disappointed side.
They had opportunities to win the game, and the disallowed Williams goal remains a major talking point.
The Forest manager argued that VAR should not have intervened because the alleged handball was not sufficiently clear and obvious.
His comments have only intensified scrutiny around the officials and the technology.
And although Glasner has not publicly turned the handshake incident into a major issue, supporters have already begun debating whether the disagreement between the two managers contributed to the awkward final whistle.
What happens next?
If the reported disciplinary process moves forward, De Zerbi could soon discover that the handshake incident has consequences beyond social media.
A one-match touchline suspension would prevent him from managing Tottenham from the technical area for their next Premier League fixture and would add another layer of pressure to an already difficult beginning to his Tottenham reign.
For now, however, the footballing story remains bigger than the handshake.
Tottenham need goals.
Forest need victories.
And both managers need their teams to start converting performances into results.
But after the latest footage emerged, one thing is certain:
What looked like a simple handshake snub may now become a disciplinary issue that follows Roberto De Zerbi into Tottenham’s next match.
