As a West Ham fan, I’m disgusted the club has stuck by Kurt Zouma

Last year, Leicester City players James Maddison and Ayoze Perez were dropped by manager Brendon Rodgers after it emerged that the two had broken Covid guidance. 

In December, Pep Guardiola dropped England stars Phil Foden and Jack Grealish from the first Manchester City team after Guardiola decided that their behaviour off the pitch was ‘not proper’.

As Guardiola said at the time: ‘When [their behaviour] off the pitch is not proper, they are not going to play.’

So, what does it say about West Ham United that Kurt Zouma could be filmed taking part in sickening animal abuse and then start against Watford in the next game?

For those who haven’t seen it, the French international was caught on film slapping and kicking his pet cat, in footage uploaded to Snapchat. 

The RSPCA said on Wednesday it had seized both his pet cats. 

The story of West Ham so far this season has been one of brilliance on the pitch and incompetence off it. 

A team threatening to qualify for the Champions League and going deep into cup competitions. This has been one of the best seasons I can remember as a West Ham fan. 

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So, it is incredibly frustrating that the actions of the people running the club is threatening to ruin all of that.

Manager David Moyes defended the decision to start Zouma by claiming it was simply his job to get three points for the Hammers. But football games do not take place in a void, unaffected by real-world events. 

Players are people and their play is impacted by their personal lives. 

West Ham fans are people too (a controversial opinion to some) and it’s much harder to support footballers who put on the claret and blue if