Staff Reporter.
West Ham United defender,Kurt Zouma has apologised after a disturbing video surfaced online of him kicking and slapping a cat, with his club publicly condemning the footage and vowing to deal with the matter.
Zouma is seen in the disturbing clip dropping, kicking and slapping the animal, while laughter can be heard in the background.
The 27-year-old France international then chases the cat, before throwing a pair of shoes at it and slapping its head.
It is understood that the footage was filmed on a camera phone by the footballer’s brother, Yoan, who currently plays for non-league side Dagenham and Redbridge.
West Ham have condemned Zouma’s actions in a strongly-worded statement following the publication of the clip.
“West Ham United unreservedly condemns the actions of our player, Kurt Zouma, in the video that has circulated,” West Ham said in a statement to The Sun.
Zouma has also released a statement, apologising for his actions and expressing his regret.
He told The Sun: “I want to apologise for my actions. There are no excuses for my behaviour, which I sincerely regret.
“I also want to say how deeply sorry I am to anyone who was upset by the video. I would like to assure everyone that our two cats are perfectly fine and healthy.
“They are loved and cherished by our entire family, and this behaviour was an isolated incident that will not happen again.”
Animal rights groups were quick to condemn Zouma’s actions and called on the relevant authorities to investigate whether any further action needed to be taken.
A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “This is a very upsetting video. It’s never acceptable to kick, hit or slap an animal, for punishment or otherwise.
“We are so grateful to people who report suspected animal suffering to us and we would like to reassure people we will always look into and, if necessary, investigate any complaints made to us about animal welfare.”
Zouma could face a police investigation for his actions. In June last year, the maximum prison sentence for animal cruelty rose from six months to five years. The law includes the abuse of cats, and anyone found guilty of doing so can also face an unlimited fine.