BLUE CROSS SPEAKS OUT ON ‘DISTRESSING’ KURT ZOUMA VIDEO

Animal charity Blue Cross released a statement after shocking footage of

West Ham football player Kurt Zouma kicking and slapping his Bengal cat came to light.

Chris Burghes, Blue Cross CEO, said: “This video is appalling and very distressing to watch.This kind of cruelty is unacceptable towards any living being and for a child to also witness this is additionally disturbing. There may have been statements afterwards that the two cats are well-loved family pets, but the trauma this individual cat has experienced is very likely to affect their well-being for the future.

“The UK Government recently raised the sentencing for animal cruelty to a maximum of a five-year jail term and we fully support prosecution for cases like this, and for all animal cruelty.”

There was public outcry following the video calling for the premiership player to be prosecuted, with the RSPCA taking swift action and removing the player’s cats from his care. Kurt Zouma issued an apology and was fined two weeks salary, which will be donated to animal welfare charities. He also lost sponsorship deals.

The RSPCA’s investigation is ongoing, and it is believed Zouma and West Ham are cooperating fully, with the club saying in a statement: “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.”