Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PUT ZOUMA TO WORK IN AN ANIMAL SANCTUARY
Chris call over football star’s attack on cat
He should say, ‘I’m genuinely reformed and sorry’
PRESENTER Chris Packham said footballer Kurt Zouma should be made to work in an animal centre as punishment for attacking his cat.
The West Ham star, 27, last week pleaded guilty to kicking and slapping the pet in his home.
Packham said it is difficult to penalise footballers financially because of their vast wealth.
But he added a film could be made about Zouma working in an RSPCA rehabilitation centre for 30 days to show he is sorry.
Packham said: “I would like to see him now play a prominent role in animal welfare.
“He should say, ‘I am a genuinely reformed character.
“‘I’m genuinely sorry and to prove that I’m going to play a role advocating animal welfare’.” The French star pleaded guilty to two charges under the Animal Welfare Act at Thames magistrates court in East London.
Yoan Zouma, 24, who plays for Dagenham and Redbridge, admitted one count of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring his brother to commit an offence.
He filmed the shocking attack in February and the pair will be sentenced this week.
Packham, 61, is vice president of the RSPCA, where Zouma’s two cats were later sent.
He slammed West Ham’s
“disgusting” decision to play the defender against Watford on the day clips of the attack were revealed. Packham, who is back on Springwatch tonight on BBC2, said Zouma failed to live up to the responsibility of footballers being role models to lots of people.
He added: “I think initially there was a perception, ‘Forgive him, he only smacked a cat’.
“Well, he did it in the wrong country because the uproar generated was tremendous.
“I am very pleased the RSPCA has been able to take this to court to make sure it receives the public attention that it deserves.”
The RSPCA will receive donations as part of the latest Omaze house draw for a £3.5million Cotswold home.