DANNY MURPHY: Kurt Zouma’s cat-kicking scandal could derail West Ham’s entire SEASON

West Ham are having such a good season, the disgusting video of Kurt Zouma mistreating his cat has been like a grenade going off in the dressing room. 

And their decision to let him continue playing without missing any games has worsened the situation. He should have been taken out of the firing line and, whatever problems West Ham have defensively, they pale into insignificance compared to doing the right thing.

To see Zouma on the pitch is only prolonging the argument. I don’t think he should be kicked out of football but there have to be consequences for unacceptable behaviour.

It is something I wrote last week highlighting the dangers of footballers being treated as special cases because of their status.

The feeling among West Ham fans was that Zouma shouldn’t have faced Watford on Tuesday when the revelations came out and I’m sure they will feel the same when he runs out at Leicester. 

The relationship between players and supporters is key. Most of them won’t want Zouma sacked, there has to be the chance of redemption through education, but there was no reason for prompt action not to be taken.

Yes, he has been fined and his animals have been taken away. But the thing that would hurt most is being denied the chance to play football.

Everyone will have their view on whether two matches, six matches or whatever is suitable, but to continue as normal sends out the wrong message, given the cruelty of what he did.

His presence at the King Power will be a distraction in an important game. West Ham could still have a really exciting season, with a Champions League challenge and attempts to win the Europa League and FA Cup realistic aims. I can’t see how letting the backlash continue will help.

I would hope and expect he has already apologised to his team-mates and asked for their forgiveness because they would have hated what he did. The players wouldn’t go against the club’s decision to let Zouma play and nor should they because they are employees, but it won’t have helped harmony in the camp.

The best thing that can happen is any feelings are expressed so they can all move on.

I’ve had team-mates sort out tensions between them with a dust-up and long-term it does help clear the air.

There have been too many terrible stories involving Premier League footballers of late. I wrote that if I was a manager, I would advise, or demand, my players didn’t go on social media. What’s happened to Zouma backs that up.

What kind of player feels they need so badly to share things on social media that you think kicking a cat and posting it on Snapchat would make people giggle?

It’s incriminating evidence and the only good thing to come out of it is the cats don’t have to live in that home any more.

West Ham could have stopped the grenade exploding if they had taken swift action. They haven’t and the risk is it could derail their season at a time things are going so well.

Spurs on thin ice  

Tottenham could afford one home defeat against Southampton in the top-four race because a lot of the other contenders have been inconsistent. But a second against Wolves would surely end their chances.

Spurs have definitely improved under Antonio Conte, with the return of Son Heung-Min a big influence. But the Italian is clever enough to dampen expectations, which is why he’s been saying it’s a long journey to reach the top.

He’s smart enough to know that this season fourth place is up for grabs because of the fragility of the competition. To blow it against Wolves could see him blow his top.