The images of footballer Kurt Zouma martyring his cat do not pass by. A petition calling for prosecution of the French international defender, published on the platform change.org, it had more than 155,500 signatures as of 15 a.m. on Wednesday. The text, in French and English, is entitled: “Chase Kurt Zouma and immediately take all his animals to a safe place!»
“In the UK we have laws once morest animal abuse, laws that should apply to everyone, rich or poor, famous or not! We call on the Metropolitan Police and the RSPCA to carry out an urgent investigation and prosecute the perpetrators of this heinous act”, explains the text of the petition.
Cruelty to animals can be punished with up to 5 years in prison in the UK. In France, the law once morest animal abuse, definitively adopted in November, provides for up to three years in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros for the fact, publicly or not, to exercise serious abuse or commit an act of cruelty to a domestic animal.
Fined by his club
Meanwhile, it is his British club West Ham who announces this Wednesday followingnoon that he has inflicted on his defender the “biggest possible fine”. The maximum amount of a fine that a club can impose on its player is usually two weeks’ wages, which, in the case of Kurt Zouma, would amount to almost 300, 000 euros in total. “The player immediately accepted the fine and requested that the amount be paid to an animal rights organization”, the club states.
Will that be enough to silence criticism of the London outfit, who were conspired to let the 27-year-old play in a league game once morest Watford on Tuesday night? “It’s despicable, reacted Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Sky Sports. I think there are a number of things that need to be done urgently. I think the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and the police need to work together and prosecute this player.“In particular, Labour calls for exemplary public figures.
During the game, Kurt Zouma had no respite. Supported by the fans, including some of his club, Zouma was conspired the whole match and, when he went to the ground following a foul by an opponent, some fans even sang : “That’s how your cat feels”.
Sorry sponsor
Assuring that he loved”many animals”Hammers manager David Moyes has defended his decision to start the Frenchman by explaining that he needs to line up his best players, with West Ham currently struggling for qualification for the lucrative Champions League.
One of West Ham’s sponsors, “Experience Kissimmee,” a Florida resort, has announced it will review its financial ties with the club. “To see that the player Kurt Zouma was in the starting xi of West Ham last night was heartbreaking”, wrote the company on its Twitter account, saying it had asked the club for clarification. The French team is also under pressure, with coach Didier Deschamps having been told by some not to call up the Saint-Etienne-trained defender anymore.