When defender Kurt Zouma kicked the cat in early 2022, he didn’t think his family’s life would turn into hell. The West Ham defender had to go online to express his remorse for that cruel act.
Kicking his pet cat named Bengal and throwing his shoes at another cat running in his apartment, midfielder Kurt Zouma was fined two weeks’ salary at West Ham and had his sponsorship contract cut off by Adidas. The court in France also announced that Zouma could be sent to “herd ants” for 4 years.
Things might not have been so serious if Zouma’s brother hadn’t been foolish by recording a video of Zouma torturing the cat and posting it online. Less than a day after the clip appeared on the Snapchat application, public opinion in England strongly criticized the French midfielder for his violent behavior towards pets.
Public opinion became even more dissatisfied when they saw coach David Moyes, a famous pet lover, add Zouma’s name to the match list between West Ham and Watford. West Ham won 1-0, but every time Zouma touched the ball, screams of boycotting this player rang out in the stands of West Ham fans.
Kurt Zouma himself also realized something bad about his behavior so he made a public apology clip, at the request of West Ham Club. The apology would have gone smoothly if in that clip, Kurt Zouma clearly expressed his request and sincere apologetic attitude, but instead, this player’s face was bewildered and careless.
However, even though he apologized, this player’s life was completely changed. On the field, Zouma was taunted by opposing fans by hugging inflatable cats at the London Stadium. West Ham coach David Moyes continues to use Zouma despite admitting that this player’s actions were “caused by evil”.
“We all make mistakes in life,” Moyes said before a match that season. “I do not condone his actions. We all see these as evil people. But I still use him because he is my player.
Zouma was truly remorseful and disappointed in his actions. There will be fan reactions at the stadium, which he will have to anticipate and rightly so. I understand how everyone feels. But now we are asking for a little forgiveness from everyone. We all make mistakes in life.”
Even MUTV commentator Steve Bower took the opportunity to criticize Zouma. After a collision between the French player and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, causing the latter to have to be replaced, this commentator said: “He is very strong. Just ask his cat.”
Zouma was eventually convicted at Thames Magistrates’ Court of two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, under the Animal Welfare Act, and was sentenced to 180 hours of community service, banned. kept or cared for the cat for five years and had to pay court fees of nearly £9,000.
Yoan Zouma, who pleaded guilty to one count of aiding, abetting, counseling or inducing his younger brother to commit a crime, was sentenced to 140 hours of community service. As for the club, after punishing its players with 2 weeks’ salary worth 250,000 pounds, West Ham donated that amount to 9 animal protection charities in the UK and abroad.
The troubles with Kurt Zouma don’t stop there. A legal complaint was filed against the player in Paris and lawyers working for La Fondation 30 Millions d’Amis, the largest animal rights group in France, contacted prosecutors.
They requested that this player be expelled from the French team and based on article 113-6 of the French Penal Code that a French citizen can be prosecuted for crimes committed abroad, “Animal cruelty” could result in Zouma being sentenced to four years in prison and a fine equivalent to £50,000.
The two cats that Kurt Zouma abused were taken into care by the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a charity in England and Wales) and West Ham said they would support them. Assist this organization in investigating Kurt Zouma’s actions in the clip.
Sportsmail also revealed in May 2022 that Essex police were investigating a series of abusive private messages sent to Zouma, in which he was repeatedly called the “N-word” and targeted. came with death threats. In these messages, Zouma and his family were threatened with sexual assault. Zouma was constantly called a monkey and “the N-word – referring to black people”
Zouma was also threatened that he would be shot and stabbed if he appeared on the street. An aggressive message also warned that this defender would be punished by having all four limbs amputated and would have to live with a disability, “living is worse than death”. The messages didn’t stop there, the messages also threatened to take the lives of Zouma’s wife and children.
“It was a difficult time for me and my family. Obviously I did something very bad and I want to apologize again for that. I regret that and now I’m trying to move on with my family. I have learned a lot from this case,” Zouma shared his regret for his cruel behavior.
