Kurt Zouma: Pundit digs at David Moyes and GSB after ‘horrendous’ West Ham dressing room reveal
Kevin Phillips has slammed West Ham manager David Moyes for his decision not to drop Kurt Zouma.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Premier League striker said the club “should have set an example” after a “horrendous” video of Zouma, 27, abusing a cat emerged online.
Zouma started against Watford despite fans and ex-players calling for the defender to be sacked as a result of his actions.
According to Daily Mail (10 February), the Hammers dressing room are unhappy with the public backlash the centre-half has received.
Phillips believes the backlash would not have been so severe had Moyes the club suspended or dropped the player.
“Listen, at the end of the day, I am an animal lover,” he told Football Insider.
“It was horrendous what we all saw, and that the dressing room are unhappy with the backlash. I am a firm believer that he does need to be punished.
“Everyone deserves a second chance though. To be sacked from your job for making a mistake isn’t right. How many people get second chances in their professions?
“Should he be punished? Yes. Should he have played in that first game? No. I think they made a mistake playing him. They should have set an example. If West Ham had done that, the backlash wouldn’t have been as bad.
“The player has to deal with the consequences and let’s hope that this makes people think twice about their actions in the future.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has claimed the ‘forward-thinking’ David Sullivan move could earn West Ham over £20million.