West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady has condemned defender Kurt Zouma after he was caught abusing his pet cat in footage released onto social media on Monday night.
The 27-year-old was seen kicking and hitting at his terrified cat in footage posted to Snapchat by his brother Yoan. The Premier League club condemned the Frenchman’s actions and fined him two weeks’ wages, worth £250,000, which they pledged will be donated to animal charities.
But the RSPCA have revealed that no money has been received from West Ham yet, while they also claimed there have been no requests to put Zouma on an animal safety course.
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady (pictured) has condemned defender Kurt Zouma
The 27-year-old was seen kicking and hitting at his terrified cat in footage posted to Snapchat
A statement from the RSPCA read: ‘There have been no plans made for animal welfare courses to be undertaken.’
West Ham boss David Moyes revealed on Friday that the club acted as swiftly as any club would do to punish Zouma, while also claimed the RSPCA are set to put him on an animal safety course.
‘We’ll send him to the RSPCA who are going to help him – just like if somebody had a drink-driving offence, we’d get them help,’ Moyes said. ‘We’d hope those people would get better and never do that again.
‘Kurt knows he has made mistakes and he will have to take his punishment. We’ve punished him as a club as much as we feel is right to do. We know there could be other sanctions as well. We’ll try to do everything for him.’
Zouma, has been widely condemned after a video emerged of him allegedly hitting the animal
Kit manufacturer Adidas, who have a deal with the Frenchman, confirmed Zouma has lost his boot sponsorship, with the company saying he ‘is no longer a contracted athlete’.
Zouma has been criticised by notable figures, including Brigitte Bardot and French politician Marine Le Pen, but the Champions League-chasing club have shockingly continued to play him despite the ferocious backlash.
And, while the club released a statement condemning his actions, co-chairman David Gold and Brady had remained silent over the matter.
However, Brady has become the latest to slam the player, writing in her column for The Sun.
The Frenchman was fined two weeks’ wages by the club and lost his Adidas boot sponsorship
‘Let me be absolutely clear – there is no defence for Kurt Zouma’s actions,’ the vice-chairman said. ‘I, like anyone who watched the video that circulated this week, was shocked by what I saw.
‘Kurt’s behaviour in no way reflected the standards and values that we hold dear at West Ham United – and of course those of our pet-loving nation.
‘Our stance on this as a Club has been clear from the very outset – we unreservedly condemn his actions and would never condone any form of cruelty towards animals.
‘We have acted swiftly to fine him the maximum amount available to us.’
Zouma is being investigated by the RSPCA after his two cats were taken into their care
Brady also claimed the club’s values extended to ‘second chances’ and revealed the importance of re-education at West Ham.
She said that West Ham were discussing ‘relevant educational programmes’ that could help the player and support the work of animal welfare charities.
Brady revealed that Zouma had shown ‘extreme remorse’ and ‘accepted this sanction immediately without reservation and was in full agreement that the funds be donated to ensure some good is done’.
West Ham boss David Moyes received mass backlash after starting Zouma in Tuesday’s 1-0 win against Watford, less than 24 hours after the videos surfaced.
But the 58-year-old defended his decision and has confirmed he is also available for Sunday’s clash with Leicester City.
David Moyes (left) has confirmed that Kurt Zouma will play against Leicester on the weekend
‘We all make mistakes in life,’ Moyes said ahead of Saturday’s trip to the King Power Stadium. ‘I am not condoning his actions. We all accepted they were diabolical. But we’ve chosen to play him and I stand by that.
‘He is really remorseful and disappointed in his actions. There will be reactions at football grounds, which he will have to expect and rightly so. He played the other night and I thought the West Ham supporters gave him a good reception.
‘I understand how people feel. I really do. But now we’re asking for a bit of forgiveness from everybody. We all make mistakes.’
Meanwhile, Kurt Zouma’s brother, Yoan has been suspended by his own football team, Dagenham & Redbridge, for filming the disgraced star’s cat-kicking video.