WEST Ham claim Kurt Zouma is “in hell” and “hopes he’s forgiven” for the horrific cat-kicking video.
The club also claim the West Ham defender, 27, will be given animal care “lessons” as he hopes to avoid prosecution.
Zouma is facing charges within days as RSPCA inspectors handle their probe “at an incredible pace”.
But, West Ham manager David Moyes says Zouma is “hoping he’s forgiven for a bad action”.
‘Animal-lover’ Moyes told a press conference: “If sponsorship is taken away from us that’s something the club will deal with and not me.
“We are going to get absolute hell. He’s getting hell.”
The manager also said Zouma will be handed courses on animal care by the RSPCA.
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The player has already been questioned by the charity’s officers, sources say.
Other witnesses have also been spoken to about footage of the footballer booting and slapping his pet.
Despite describing Zouma’s actions as “diabolical”, Moyes refused to drop the defender.
He said: “I understand the criticism I have had personally.
“But I know my moral compass.
“If its to do with animals, no one enjoys animals more than me. I can look in the mirror but I understand they are disappointed.
“That’s the decision I have made and I stand by that.”
Moyes confirmed his centre-back could feature at the King Power on Sunday despite furious backlash.
He handed his two Bengal cats to RSPCA care for health checks and assessment. It is unlikely he will get the prized animals back.
Zouma — who played for West Ham against Watford on Tuesday night despite a fan backlash — has been fined the maximum two weeks’ wages by his club.
Meanwhile, Zouma’s brother Yoan, who plays for Dagenham and Redbridge, has been suspended by the National League club.
‘AVALANCHE OF COMPLAINTS’
Defender Yoan, 23, filmed the abuse on his phone before uploading it to Snapchat.
If prosecuted and convicted, £30million centre back Zouma faces punishments ranging from a ban on owning animals to a jail sentence, although that is unlikely.
A source said: “The RSPCA has been working at an incredible pace — even before video of Zouma’s cat abuse went viral. There is big pressure for them to be taking decisive action after police handed them the lead on the investigation.
“If they deem it severe enough, Zouma could be charged as quickly as next week. There’s a lot of public anger over what happened, and quite rightly, but the investigation needs to be done to the book.”
The RSPCA has been “combing through an avalanche of complaints” from animal-lovers after we broke the story on Tuesday.
It said last night: “Two cats are in our care and have been seen by a vet and are being well looked after. They will remain in our care while the investigation continues.”
French international Zouma also faces potential legal action in France after an animal rights group lodged a complaint in Paris.
French citizens can be prosecuted at home for crimes committed abroad.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
