The 27-year-old, who performed against Watford within the Premier League on Tuesday, has been extensively condemned after a video emerged of him dropping, kicking and slapping the animal. The RSPCA animal welfare agency defined the video as "very provoking" and is main the research while cooperating with police. Nearly 2 hundred,000 humans have signed an internet petition calling for Zouma to be prosecuted as the public backlash intensifies in a country famend for its love of animals.
West Ham issued a sparkling assertion on Wednesday saying Zouma became complying with the RSPCA, such as turning in his cats to the charity for assessment. "Kurt is extraordinarily remorseful and, like all of us at the club, completely is aware the depth of feeling surrounding the incident and the need for action to be taken," the club stated. "Separate to the RSPCA's research and pending in addition sanction as soon as the final results of that system is decided, West Ham United can verify that Kurt Zouma has been fined the most amount viable following his movements inside the video that circulated.
"The player has right away frequent the nice and has asked that it's far donated to animal welfare charities."
Reports stated the pleasant would general round £250,000, with wellknown Premier League contracts allowing for a maximum first-class of two weeks' wages. The RSPCA, that is running with police at the case, tweeted that the cats were "secure and in our care".
"Our precedence is and has always been the wellbeing of these cats," stated a spokesman. "They've been taken for a test-up at a vets after which will continue to be in our care even as the investigation keeps. "We're thankful to every body who expressed their situation for these cats. We were coping with this difficulty earlier than the video went viral on-line and are main the research."
Insurance and funding enterprise Vitality introduced it turned into postponing its sponsorship as West Ham's "reliable health accomplice". "We have been very distressed by means of the video we have seen of Kurt Zouma," the company stated in a declaration. "At Vitality, we condemn animal cruelty and violence of any type."
Adidas, the defender's reliable package provider, showed it become investigating the incident internally. A spokesman for Heineken UK, West Ham's "beer and cider accomplice", stated it became "appalled at the contents of the video" and welcomed the movements the membership had been taking.
West Ham had previously said they could be handling the problem internally, adding: "We would like to make it clean that we in no manner condone cruelty closer to animals." But Zouma, who had formerly apologised for his moves, turned into though selected by using supervisor David Moyes for Tuesday's 1-0 win at the London Stadium. Moyes insisted he became an "animal lover" however become adamant he had to do what was right for his club, who are fourth inside the Premier League table.
The defender got a flavor of the intensity of feeling as he become relentlessly booed by way of Watford supporters, with even West Ham fanatics joining in some of the jeering. Maggie Roberts, director of veterinary services for the Cats Protection charity, stated the selection to pick out Zouma "sends an appalling message to fans and the wider public".
The response has additionally been robust in France, with animal rights businesses condemning Zouma's behaviour. The SPA animal welfare charity said the defender have to never play for France again, in a letter to the French Football Federation seen by AFP.
