CAT-KICKING Kurt Zouma had his two pets taken away by the RSPCA yesterday amid fury over the footballer’s animal cruelty.
The West Ham defender, 27, was dropped by his club and fined £250,000.
Sponsors last night turned their backs on Zouma as thousands called for him to be prosecuted.
Sportswear giant Adidas confirmed the French defender has lost his boot deal, saying he “is no longer a contracted athlete”.
Vitality UK said it was suspending its sponsorship with the East London club after boss David Moyes fielded Zouma in a Premier League game on Tuesday night.
TV presenters Gary Lineker and Chris Packham were among thousands sickened that he had been allowed to play.
The insurer said: “We condemn animal cruelty of any kind.
“We are hugely disappointed by the judgment subsequently shown by the club.”
Finance firm Yield APP and travel company Experience Kissimmee said they were reviewing corporate sponsorship deals.
Zouma was also dropped as an ambassador for big cat rescue charity Seed, run by his wife Sandra.
Fans of National League side Dagenham and Redbridge demanded that his 23-year-old brother Yoan — who plays for them and filmed Zouma kicking and slapping one of his two Bengal cats — be fired.
RSPCA probe
More than 240,000 had last night signed an online petition calling for the £30million star to be prosecuted in the UK for animal cruelty.
Despite calls for cops to intervene, Essex Police said they would not be investigating the incident and had handed it to the RSPCA to consider a private prosecution.
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Zouma’s cats were seized by RSPCA inspectors yesterday to guarantee their safety and for medical checks pending possible legal action by the charity.
Vets were last night assessing whether either of the pets was suffering from any physical injury or mental trauma.
West Ham also acted by fining the 6ft 3in defender the maximum two weeks’ wages — £250,000 — which it said would be donated to animal welfare charities.
The RSPCA said: “Our priority is and has always been the wellbeing of these cats.
“They’ve been taken for a check-up at a vets and then will remain in our care while the investigation continues.”
In a further punishment, centre-back Zouma has been axed by West Ham for at least their next match — a Premier League game at Leicester on Sunday.
The player was at the centre of more controversy when David Moyes put him in the Hammers’ starting line-up just hours after The Sun highlighted the sickening video footage.
Zouma looked shaken as he was booed and jeered by both sets of fans during his side’s 1-0 home win over Watford at the London Stadium.
‘Tone deaf decision’
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker said yesterday: “Shocked and appalled that West Ham played Zouma last night. A tone deaf decision.”
TV presenter and wildlife conservationist Chris Packham said: “They gave him a pedestal to proclaim his pathetic apology. But they didn’t ‘lose the dressing room’ tonight, they lost the crowd.”
He added: “This was not a beautiful game, this was an ugly disgrace and whilst he has had his night on the pitch, I hope he has his day in court.”
Becky Thwaites, PR boss at national pet charity Blue Cross, said: “In our view it normalises his abhorrent behaviour and delivers the message it’s acceptable to treat a family pet that way.
“It gives the impression to young football fans watching last night that it doesn’t matter what he did to his cat, and that all that is important is football.”
Zouma gave a grovelling public apology for his actions to his teammates before the match.
He had already issued a public apology for what he claimed was an isolated incident.
A West Ham spokesman said: “Like everyone at the club, he fully understands the depth of feeling surrounding the incident and the need for action to be taken.
“West Ham United would like to reiterate our condemnation of Kurt’s actions and make it clear that the matter continues to be handled with the utmost seriousness.”
The Sun revealed how Zouma was videoed kicking, chasing and slapping a helpless cat after it broke a vase at his £2million Essex home.
His laughing brother Yoan filmed the incident and later uploaded footage to Snapchat.
Zouma has faced widespread criticism in France too over the video and calls for him to be ditched from the country’s national team.
It emerged he could face up to four years in jail in France for animal cruelty.
A legal complaint has been filed against him in Paris.
The video led lawyers working for the 30 Million Friends Foundation (La Fondation 30 Millions d’Amis), the largest animal rights group in Franc, to contact prosecutors.
A spokesman for the Foundation said: ‘We condemn this heinous act, have asked that the player be suspended from the France team, and filed a legal complaint against him.”
‘Course of action’
According to article 113-6 of the French Penal Code, a French citizen can be prosecuted for criminal acts carried out abroad.
Last night the French FA was tight lipped but a source said: “The matter is being discussed at the highest levels and a course of action is being discussed.”
Zouma could face up to five years in prison in Britain if convicted of the most serious offence under tougher new animal welfare laws, which were launched last year.
However, concerns have been raised whether the RSPCA has the tools and resources to successfully bring him to justice.
Rachel Fletcher, head of Crime and Regulatory for Slater Heelis solicitors, said: “In undertaking private prosecutions, the RSPCA often lacks the funds and resources to investigate properly — despite having in-house lawyers.
“That’s why there has been increased pressure in recent times for the RSPCA to hand over the prosecution function to the CPS.
“The penalties for committing an offence of cruelty or for failing to provide for an animal’s welfare includes a ban from owning animals, a fine of up to £20,000 or, in some cases, prison.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
