Sponsor dumps West Ham over cat cruelty storm as RSPCA seizes footballer’s pets
West Ham refusing to ban disgraced cat-kicker despite backlash as sponsors give him (and the club) the boot
DISGRACED footballer Kurt Zouma’s cats were seized yesterday as sponsors ditched West Ham following outrage over his sickening attack.
Zouma, 27, has also been fined £250,000 – two weeks’ wages – by the club’s bosses in a dramatic Uturn after their decision to play him on Tuesday evening.
But West Ham have refused to suspend Zouma, despite the anger towards the French international.
The defender had uploaded footage to Snapchat showing him dropkicking his Bengal cat and slapping it out of his son’s arms just 48 hours before the game – where he was booed by his own fans.
West Ham were roundly condemned for starting him against Watford but yesterday reversed their position after key sponsors sought to distance themselves from the club and player.
It also emerged Zouma could be jailed for up to four years in his native France under beefed-up animal welfare laws introduced last year. The RSPCA confirmed it had taken his two cats for a check-up at the vets ‘and they will remain in our care while the investigation continues’.
Yesterday Adidas, Zouma’s kit supplier, confirmed the centre-back ‘is no longer an Adidas-contracted athlete’ after its own probe into the footage.
Vitality life insurance also suspended their sponsorship deal with West Ham after being left ‘hugely disappointed by the judgment subsequently shown by the club in response to this incident.’
Long-term sponsor Heineken said it was ‘appalled’ by the video. And main shirt sponsor Umbro said: ‘We condemn the actions of the player concerned and do not condone cruelty towards animals in any form.’
West Ham said: ‘Kurt and the club are co-operating fully with the investigation and the player has willingly complied with the steps taken in the initial stage of the process, including delivering his family’s two cats to the RSPCA for assessment.
‘Kurt is extremely remorseful and, like everyone at the club, fully understands the depth of feeling surrounding the incident and the need for action to be taken.’
A spokesman for the club said it had fined the player ‘the maximum amount possible’, which will be donated to animal charities, but he could face further sanctions depending on the outcome of the RSPCA investigation.
It came as French animal charity the 30 Million Friends Foundation moved to prosecute Zouma in his homeland. It said it had contacted lawyers and called on manager Didier Deschamps to suspend him from the national squad.
The footage has caused outrage across the country with politicians including Marine Le Pen slamming the behaviour as ‘shameful’.
According to article 113-6 of the French Penal Code, a citizen can be prosecuted for criminal acts carried out abroad. Tough animal protection laws introduced last year mean ‘mistreatment of animals’ is punishable by up to four years in prison and a fine equivalent to £50,000.
Gary Lineker said yesterday he was ‘shocked and appalled that West Ham played Zouma’ while former Hammers defender James Collins said: ‘They’ve got it wrong.’
A West Ham spokesman last night said the club ‘would like to reiterate our condemnation of Kurt’s actions’.
WEST HAM have no plans to ban Kurt Zouma for abusing his cat, despite a fierce backlash from sponsors yesterday.
The defender, who was filmed kicking and slapping the pet, had his boot deal with adidas — believed to be worth about £100,000 a year — torn up by the sportswear giant yesterday.
Life insurance company Vitality, who have a £500,000 annual sponsorship deal with West Ham, have also suspended their contract with the east London club.
West Ham manager David Moyes faced heavy criticism after playing Zouma for the full 90 minutes of Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Watford, but Sportsmail understands the club have no plans to drop the 27-year-old (below) for upcoming games unless it emerges either of his two cats were injured while in his care.
The RSPCA temporarily seized the animals from Zouma yesterday to check their wellbeing and the charity is liaising with Essex Police. The centre back is also being sent on an animal awareness course.
West Ham have fined theFrenchman£250,000—
the equivalent of two weeks’ wages — which will be donated to animal welfare
charities.