Inevitable Zoumagate Fall Out!

Pundits and fans far and wide have joined the bandwagon seeking legal sanction against West Ham's Kurt Zouma following the player's despicable acts of violence against one of his pet cats, an act that was perversely filmed by his younger brother and then inexplicably uploaded to snap chat.

The violence against the Cat was unforgivable and although the player has been contrite with his apologies, his actions DO warrant further actions on the basis that no one is above the Law, not even extremely well paid footballers!

The filming of such 'nastiness' is almost as bad as the act itself in our opinion, surely 'little' brother Yoah, who plays for Dagenham & Redbridge, could have intervened instead of filming the event and then posting it on social media as if it was something to be proud of?

The consequences of Zoumagate or Kittygate, what ever you want to call it will be long and loud. Sponsors are queueing up to distance themselves from the French International AND from the club, a situation that was intensified as a result of Zouma playing the game against Watford so soon after the story about the Cat abuse had appeared.

Ever since the club moved to the great white elephant that is the London Stadium, pundits, politicians and a plethora of other parties have jumped on ANY indiscretion connected with the club, in the false belief that Hammers STOLE the ground from the Tax payer and as tenants continue to be 'subsidised', the fact that this is due to the 'Arena' NOT being fit for purpose is always conveniently over looked.

There would have been public outcry if the Stadium were to have been demolished, so instead Hammers tenancy was a 'cobbled' together and ultimately made to work, which against ALL odds it has. The public outcry regarding Zouma's actions is almost as loud as if the Stadium had been demolished.

The whole Zouma affair has put the club's profile back years, playing him against Watford may well have helped win three points, but at the end of the day we can't help feeling that it was a Pyrrhic victory that will have longer term consequences than the Hammers hierarchy had bargained for.

The club should really have 'bitten the bullet', by taking the decision whether to play Zouma or not out of David Moyes' hands and suspending the player until the dust has settled a bit, that opportunity along with bringing in an additional centre back during the January transfer window has long gone.

Incidentally, as 'Orgers' are probably aware, we have a well connected source at Stamford Bridge, who has told us of the utter shock and disbelief that Chelsea players have shown regarding the incident(s) involving their ex-team mate, to a man NONE of them thought Kurt was capable of such brutality to a harmless animal! - ED