A WAG has sparked debate on Twitter after praising her daughter for punching a bully in the face.
The wife of former Southampton striker Charlie Austin, 33, Bianca, 35, told her followers she was a "proud mum" after the 16-year-old had "finally punched the bully in the face after numerous phone calls to the school and nothing changing".
The post was seen by 1.9m users, many of whom supported the mum-of-three's admission.
One wrote: "Good on her, she did exactly what was needed to be done. Shame on the school though for not sorting the bullying out when you first called them."
Another said: "I’m generally a pacifist but the best bit of advice I was ever given was that you don’t let bullies get away with it."
While a third replied: "Ignoring it didn’t work; ignoring a fire doesn’t put it out. If you are bullied, fight. If you see someone being bullied, fight for them."
However trainee nurse Bianca was criticised by others who argued 'violence' wasn't the answer.
One said: "Your daughter should not be hitting anyone, ever. I get that bullying is awful and harmful but when I said your daughter’s actions would make things worse, you can now see where I was going. Bullying someone 'back' by hitting is also bullying."
However Bianca defended her daughter's actions, replying: "I’d be interested to hear how you’d suggest a resolution to the bullying.
"School couldn’t stop it, it was wrecking her mental health and affecting her GCSE studies, what is the right course of action here?! Also she didn’t 'bully' back.
"Bullying is repeated behaviour intended to hurt someone emotionally and physically. She has no intent of malice, all she wants is to be left alone to quietly enjoy school!"
Bianca, whose husband has been in the England squad but now plays for League Two Swindon, also shared details of her daughter's punishment following the incident.
She wrote: "********* is in school exclusion at the moment while the other child is in class. I asked what sanction she [the bully] would be receiving and was told she was only verbally abusive but other students’ sanctions are not allowed to be discussed with me, so who knows."
In an update, Bianca added: "Two days in-school exclusion for my daughter, whilst the other child has gone to class because she was 'only' verbally abusive. No wonder bullying is never stopped in schools... head high *********."
The National Bullying Helpline says if parents and carers do not think teachers are taking satisfactory action, they should contact their local authority to remind it that it has a ‘statutory duty’ to ensure all children in schools are safe at all times.
