West Ham defender Kurt Zouma has been charged with three offences under the Animal Welfare Act after harming his cat in a video that went viral earlier this year.
West Ham defender Kurt Zouma has been charged with three offences under the Animal Welfare Act for kicking and slapping his cat in a viral video earlier this year.
The 27-year old will be in the dock at Thames Magistrates' Court tomorrow over the Snapchat video where he appeared to boot the feline across his kitchen.
The France international is accused of two counts of causing "unnecessary suffering" to the cat by kicking it in the abdomen and slapping it in the head. Zouma is also charged with failing to protect the cat from "pain suffering, injury or disease".
Zouma's brother Yoan, who plays for Dagenham and Redbridge, too has been charged with two alleged offences following an RSPCA investigation. The 23-year-old filmed his brother's cat abuse, which had sparked massive public outrage.
Yoan is accused of two counts of "aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring" his brother Kurt to commit the offence of causing unnecessary suffering to the cat.
Also read: After Kurt Zouma, PETA accuses German legend Thomas Muller of animal cruelty
After the video appeared in February, the RSPCA removed two cats from Kurt's home and began liaising with Essex Police about the incident. The RSPCA continues to care for the two cats.
The West Ham defender was fined a reported 250,000 pounds and was dropped by several sponsors but continued to play for the Hammers. His brother has not played for Dagenham and Redbridge since January 29.
Several animal rights activists and those enraged by the video took to Twitter to applaud the RSPCA for their work in ensuring the West Ham star was charged for abusing his cat. Some even stated 'cat lives matter' as reactions poured in on the micro-blogging site.
Here's a look at some of the responses:
Kurt Zouma charged with animal cruelty offences after cat kicking well done pic.twitter.com/khPEPZgIs2
— dominic dyer (@domdyer70)YESSSSSS, this for a scumbag
BREAKING NEWShttps://t.co/iWvq68HMBA
Why is this shit allowed to play still?! BBC News - Kurt Zouma: West Ham defender charged with animal welfare offenceshttps://t.co/7tFtzcf3Ct
— Mick Green (@mick7green)West Ham defender Kurt Zouma has been charged with three offences under the Animal Welfare Act after allegedly harming his cat.
Send the scumbag down and throw the key away
I hope he's banned for life from EVER owning another animal! https://t.co/AFCyaZRYgc
— Pixie (@PixieInShadow)I hate it when people are cruel to animals. Good news that is being punished for this cruel behaviour.https://t.co/vDgIGwcPlL
— Colin 🇺🇦 ✊slava ukraini (@Colin1866)So they have charged Kurt Zouma with three offences under the Animal Welfare Act. Issokay 🚶🏼♀️
— Sarafina Napoleon (@FinaNapoleon)The RSPCA are prosecuting the footballing thug Kurt Zouma and his Brother for kicking their cat 👏👏
Now have you had a chance to take a look at Halal slaughter in the UK yet?
Good is disgusting,
Great work https://t.co/ZWR4GG9vsm
Good! Vile excuse of a human https://t.co/J3jwsHa7sp
— CJ (@cj87EFC)