Gary Neville has said that West Ham United’s, Kurt Zouma, should be allowed to play football again after a video emerged of him kicking his cat last week, as he told Sky Sports.
Not long after the footage circulated across social media, West Ham, and in particular their manager, David Moyes, decided to play him for their 1-0 win against Watford.
Given that there was already an outcry regarding Zouma’s actions, it only took it up a notch when the West Ham centre-back was still allowed to do his job given everything surrounding him at the time.
Since then, the France international has seen his cats taken away from him and RSPCA are investigating the incident.
A lot has been said on what type of punishment Zouma should face, as Neville shared his thoughts on the matter and West Ham’s man in dugout deciding to pick him despite the criticism.
“It’s really difficult because I think, historically, Sir Alex would have closed ranks,” said Neville. “I have dealt with it internally. The problem you have in 2022 is that it isn’t sometimes enough to say ‘I have dealt with it internally’.
“Sometimes, with social media, you aren’t sure how some things are going to fly as well or how something is going to grow. It’s that balancing act of doing the right thing, but trying to stand by your team members and players who have made mistakes.
“Kurt Zouma made a terrible mistake. The reality of it is that David Moyes was left in a difficult predicament of ‘what should he do?’ I think he has just about got it right. Some people will say ‘he’s got it wrong’. Some will say ‘he has got it right’.
“I think it’s very difficult for a manager. The club have to set the tone. If that’s my club, I’m taking that away from the manager. I am protecting the manager – Do I think he should never play football again? No, I don’t. I think he should. Should he have played the other night? Maybe not.”
West Ham recorded a 2-2 draw at Leicester City on Sunday, with Zouma initially named in the starting XI.
But just before kick-off, he pulled out with illness and he was replaced in the team by Issa Diop.
It’s pretty clear, the Hammers have made their stance and they are playing their centre-back, regardless of the noise surrounding this whole situation.
But whilst Zouma has also been fined by his club, this isn’t over yet because the RSPCA still have to come up with their own outcome.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
