Internet divided after Footballer’s daughter punches bully in the face

The wife of a former football star has divided the internet after praising her daughter for striking back at a bully.

Former Brisbane Roar striker Charlie Austin and his partner, Bianca Austin.

The wife of former Brisbane Roar striker Charlie Austin has divided the internet after praising her teenage daughter for punching her bully in the face.

Bianca Austin has been married to the former Premier League star since 2015, and has one daughter with the striker.

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Ms Austin tweeted last week: “After weeks of being bullied by the same girl, numerous phone calls to the school and nothing changing, today when being called names my daughter finally punched the bully in the face.

“Proud mum,” she wrote.

The tweet blew up, garnering 17,000 likes.

Asked whether her daughter feels better now “she’s stood up for herself”, Austin replies “No, but she’s hoping the girl will leave her alone now.”

Charlie Austin scored 4 goals in 11 appearances for Brisbane Roar. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

As for the bully, Austin does not seem satisfied with the outcome that the school responded with.

“(My daughter) is in an in-school exclusion at the moment whilst the other child is in class,” she wrote.

“I asked what sanction she would be receiving and was told she was only verbally abusive but other students’ sanctions are not allowed to be discussed with me.

In a follow-up tweet, Austin wrote “No wonder bullying is never stopped in schools.”

One social media user responded “your daughter should not be hitting anyone - ever.

“I get that bullying is awful and harmful but when I said that your daughter’s actions would make things worse, you can now see where I was going.

“Bullying someone “back” by hitting is also bullying.”

Austin responded unequivocally, asking what alternative resolution method would be suggested.

Despite the former Premier League frontman coming to Queensland, the Roar are languishing second-to-last on the A-League table. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Richard Gosling

“I’d be interested to hear how you’d suggest a resolution to the bullying,” she said.

“School couldn’t stop it, it was wrecking her mental health and affecting her GSCE 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!”

The Australian Government’s “Bullying. No Way!” initiative says “schools can be much more effective when parents report bullying and support their efforts to deal with it.”

Charlie Austin recently departed Brisbane Roar having scored 4 goals in 11 appearances, returning to his first league club, Swindon Town, in the English fourth division on a contract that runs through to the end of the 2022-23 season.

Austin has scored 8 goals for Swindon Town since returning.

Swindon Town sit 11th on the League Two table, eight points shy of promotion play-off contention.

Originally published as Internet divided after Footballer’s daughter punches bully in the face