After the publication by The Sun of a video showing him hitting his cat, Kurt Zouma played on Tuesday evening with West Ham against Watford in the Premier League.
He even played the entire match won by his team against Watford (1-0).
The French international (11 caps, 1 goal) was heavily whistled by his own supporters each time he took the ball.
A video obtained by The Sun allegedly shows footballer Kurt Zouma kicking and hitting his cat.
It's absolutely disgusting and disturbing footage.
I hope he is prosecuted for animal cruelty.
pic.twitter.com/3K7xMeHh5j
— Emily Hewertson 🇬🇧 (@emilyhewertson) February 7, 2022
So why did he play when the scandal is growing and his club, if he deplores his gesture, has not officially sanctioned him?
His coach David Moyes, who does not endorse his actions, explains himself by speaking only of the field: "He played because he is one of our best players", explains Moyes.
While waiting for the follow-up given to this story, Moyes does not plan to do without the former Stéphanois for the next matches.
“He will remain available.
The club will settle the rest.
I take care of football.
I am really disappointed with what he has done and the club have taken all the measures they can take internally.
But my job is to choose the best team and Kurt is one of them.
»
The SPA files a complaint against Zouma
The former Manchester manager continues: “I'm a big animal lover and it's something that has touched a lot of people.
I was completely disappointed with what I saw and what I was told.
But my job was to try to find a way to get a win for West Ham.
I am someone who cares a lot about my dogs and my horses.
I understand a lot of people won't accept Kurt playing.
But I had to do my job.
My job is to choose the best possible team and Kurt is one of them.
»
"It's a crime": the SPA will file a complaint against Kurt Zouma for animal abuse pic.twitter.com/WNefhcgS4l
– BFMTV (@BFMTV) February 9, 2022
Since the disclosure of the acts of violence of the French player on his animals, the complaints are linked against him.
After the 30 million friends foundation or the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, the Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA) decided in turn to take legal action this Wednesday morning: “This person must be prosecuted, explains Jacques- Charles Fombonne, its president.
It is unworthy.
I think it goes beyond a history of abuse.
There is a child who attends this scene, which is an aggravating circumstance.
Then, besides the fact that it's filmed, and assumed, we're talking about a football player, a star, that is to say someone in whom all the kids who kick a ball have want to identify.
Caught in the scandal, Zouma quickly apologized: “I want to say how sorry I am to everyone who was upset by the video.
I want to assure everyone that our two cats are perfectly fine and healthy.
They are loved and cherished by our entire family, and this behavior was an isolated incident that will not happen again,” he explained.
Not sure, however, that his simple excuses are enough to make him forgive, even by the fans of his own club.
