The Guardian reported that the news that former Arsenal midfielder Thomas is about to join Villarreal has caused strong dissatisfaction among the Spanish club fans, and hundreds of people signed a petition saying it was "the darkest day in club history" and demanded that the deal be stopped.
Thomas appeared in London court this Tuesday and faced five counts of rape involving two women and sexual assault against a third woman. These alleged criminal acts are said to have occurred during Thomas's time at Arsenal from 2021 to 2022. The judge approved his conditional bail and said the 32-year-old Ghana international was about to move to Spain. Villarreal has agreed to sign a one-year contract with it, including the option to renew the contract for 12 months.
Football reporter and La Liga expert Rahul Rakani said: "This has caused a shock to the community. Some people on social media refuted me fiercely and emphasized the principle of presumption of innocence. But the mainstream reaction is that Villarreal fans are unwilling to be associated with Thomas."
A large number of fans used the tag #reject Thomas Patti# to express their opposition to the club's deal, and some people spread the club's official contact information and called on fans to complain.
Lacani pointed out that the potential signing will tarnish the image of the club that is connected to the 52,000-person town: "Villareal is not like Real Madrid, Barcelona or Premier League giants, they are the opposite of these giants. It is a club that has contributed a lot to the community and is regarded as a family-run club. Their names will now be linked to someone who wants to sign a five-count rape allegation overhead, rather than Playing beautiful football may be famous for defeating the strong. "The petition signed by more than 800 people said the club's move was "a slap in the face of club supporters and all victims of sexual assault around the world". The sponsor Villarreal Report Network said the signing was "a complete betrayal of the highest level of club supporters and Villarreal's values, and the darkest day in club history is approaching second by second." The agency said on social media. Villarreal did not respond to a request for comment.
There are also some Villarreal fans who welcomed the potential signing, suggesting that Thomas' potential deal will trigger huge differences among the fan group.
Villarreal's fan club head Borja Jimenez Ortega said: "This is a top signing, which is very beneficial to the team, and I am full of confidence in the club. In my 60-person fan group, there are only two or three people who don't want him."
Another Villarreal fan club chairman Cesar Marquez Trabado said: "I oppose this signing. It is true that Thomas will be very suitable for Villarreal because he is a very high-quality player, but I think some moral bottom lines should not be crossed, even if the player has not been convicted. This is a common view of many people, and I want to say 90% of the fans oppose this deal. Because in the end, the team may improve in the short term. But in the long run, it will seriously damage our image."
source:TY SO 7M CN