Back in February a video uploaded by Yoan Zouma showed the two kicking a cat and laughing. After the video went public the backlash was huge from rival fans and West Ham supporters alike. Zouma would continue to play during the year ending the season with 24 Premier League appearances.

Zouma was fined two weeks’ worth of wages for the incident, while West Ham lost many sponsors along the way of the public outcry.

Details of Kurt Zouma’s plea

The West Ham defender pleaded guilty for two counts of causing “unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, by kicking and slapping a cat”. Yoan Zouma plead guilty to “aiding, abetting, counseling or procuring Kurt Zouma to commit the offense.”

Final judgment on the case is scheduled for June 1st in which Zouma faces up to five years in jail after British laws for animal cruelty were strengthen last year.

Zouma arrived at West Ham this season after being on Chelsea’s books since 2014 and going on loan to Everton and Stoke City, among others. Zouma has been capped 14 times by France and last played for the World champions in 2021.

While West Ham United issued a statement against what Zouma did, the club still played the defender against Watford and was set to play against Leicester City until the player fell “ill” at the last minute. The club has lost sponsorship deals because of their non-action and Zouma has also lost sponsorship contracts due to the images shown.

When confronted by reporters over the team’s lack of action, West Ham player Michail Antonio turned the tables and asked reporters if what Zouma did was worse than racism in the game. Now a group of West Ham supporters are showing their support for Kurt Zouma.

West Ham fans kick inflatable cat in video

A video has surfaced of West Ham fans singing songs of support and then kicking an inflatable cat for good measure. The video was also condemned by fans who were quoted as saying “Just not right is it. Hope he (Zouma) goes to jail” on social media.

The video was filmed at what appears to be a local bar and the fans, drinking, kicked and punched the cat while laughing. Zouma has already been fined for his actions and charges could still be pressed, but at the moment West Ham United seem to not be taking any action on their side except condemning what Zouma did.

The evidence is clear, Kurt Zouma kicked a cat for amusement in a video filmed by his brother while both were at the defender’s home. Zouma felt the heat on social media and has since seen his sponsorship deals terminated and his club West Ham United are in danger of losing a sponsor as a result.

Zouma, an ill-advised move by his team, was a starter for West Ham against Watford where the player felt the anger from both the home and away supporters. Now in a strange scene reporters asked Michail Antonio what type of punishment Zouma should receive for his actions to which the Jamaican gave the reporters and those present a thought-provoking answer related to racism in the game.

Michail Antonio asks reporters question on racism

During the Q&A, where the forward was in his car, a reporter asked the Jamaican international if Zouma deserved a harsher punishment to which Antonio responded, “I’ve got a question for you. So, do you think what he has done is worse than racism?”

“I’m not condoning a thing that he has done. I don’t agree with what he has done at all. But there’s people that have been convicted and caught for racism and they have played football afterwards. They got punished, they got an eight-game punishment or something like that. But people are now calling for people to be sacked, to lose their livelihood. I’ve just got to ask this question to everybody out there. Is what he’s done [Zouma] worse than what the people have done that are convicted for racism?”

In the following days since the video surfaced Zouma has lost his sponsors Adidas and Vitality, The RSPCA confirmed it has seized the player’s two cats, while they continue to conduct an investigation into the abuse of the animal. The player could face 4 years in a French prison, and more than 150,000 people have signed a petition calling for the player to be prosecuted.

Zouma was booed by both the West Ham and Watford supporters during The Hammers 1-0 win at home. What shocked many on social media was that Zouma was placed in the starting lineup for the match, to which many fans noted how “tone deaf” West Ham United was on the matter.

The incident of the player abusing an animal for kicks is still under investigation by Essex Police and West Ham United are “dealing with the matter internally”. Nonetheless in the court of public opinion there was a lot of backlash and Zouma felt the heat from the fans in the stands and on social media, with UFC fighter Jan Blachowicz issuing the disgraced soccer player a challenge.

Jan Blachowicz challenges Kurt Zouma on Twitter

Blachowicz took to Twitter to vent his frustration upon seeing the video tweeting, “If you are so tough mother****er, Kurt Zouma, try to kick me… What a piece of s***. No tolerance for animal cruelty.”

A spokesperson from the RSPCA stated: “This is a very upsetting video. It’s never acceptable to kick, hit or slap an animal, for punishment or otherwise.” The player has apologized for the video, “I want to apologize for my actions. There are no excuses for my behavior, which I sincerely regret” Zouma stated.

According to The Sun, West Ham United are considering dropping Zouma against Watford. The video shows the French player dropping the cat and kicking it in mid-air across his kitchen. Zouma later chases the cat around the dining room and throws a pair of shoes at it, while the cat tries to escape. The final image is of Zouma slapping the cat in the face.

West Ham United condemned the footage and many on social media have attacked the defender upon seeing the footage. Thousands of people have contacted the RSPCA and the player has hence apologized for the video.

Will there be any legal action against Kurt Zouma?

The player could face a criminal case if the RSPCA does pursue criminal action. The irony to all of this is that Zouma is an ambassador for French charity, Seed, which raises money for an animal shelter for big cats.

Zouma arrived at West Ham this season after loan spells at Everton, Stoke City, and in France. From 2014-2021 he was officially a Chelsea player, playing 99 Premier League games winning 5 titles with the club.

The French international, who was called up by Didier Deschamps for the upcoming international window, would leave the club after seven years since his arrival from Ligue 1 side Saint Ettiene.

Zouma hasn’t taken part in either of the two 2021/22 Premier League fixtures, seeing both games from the bench. His departure is understood to be part of Thomas Tuchel‘s ambition of landing Kounde.

Kurt Zouma to leave Chelsea and become Premier League rivals’ highest-paid player

Kurt Zouma wouldn’t have to make a long trip as he is reportedly close to joining London rivals West Ham, who have made him their priority target to boost their defense this season.

In fact, The Athletic reported he would earn£125,000 per week, becoming the Hammers‘ best-paid player. Zouma has started in Chelsea’s UEFA Super Cup win over Villarreal at the beginning of the season, but doesn’t have much space in the starting lineup with the likes of Antonio Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta, and Andreas Christensen ahead of him.

Zouma, 26, faces a huge opportunity to see regular first-team action staying in the same city and performing for a team that capped a great season in 2020/21 under David Moyes.