In early February 2022, footage went viral after West Ham’s footballer Kurt Zouma was filmed kicking, slapping and throwing a pair of shoes at his cat in the video, filmed by his younger brother Yoan who is also a footballer.

It emerged that Zouma’s shocking behaviour was because of his Bengal cat damaging a chair and this was his form of punishment for this behaviour.

Zouma was charged with two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a cat under the UK Animal Welfare Act 2006, while Kurt’s brother Yoan was charged with one count of aiding, abetting, counselling to procuring Kurt to commit an offence. The Zouma brothers pleaded guilty to their charges in May at the first opportunity and the Thames Magistrates’ Court.

The Court sentenced Kurt and Yoan to 180 hours and 140 hours of community service respectively. The Zouma brothers are also banned from keeping cats for five years. In passing sentence, District Judge Susan Holdham described the brothers behaviour as ‘disgraceful and reprehensible’.

Premier League Club West Ham responded to the incident swiftly and said they condemn any form of animal abuse or cruelty. West Ham also imposed the maximum fine on Zouma, equivalent to only two weeks of his salary (£250,000), which was donated to animal welfare charities.

Ironically, Zouma is an ambassador of a French charity, Seed which supports the protection of animals. After the incidnet, the charity has since relieved Zouma of his ambassadorial duties.

The cat involved the video and another pet cat in the Zouma’s household were taken into the care of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals after the incident and have subsequently been rehomed.

Courtesy of Wong Jing Shan