French international footballer Kurt Zouma has triggered a tornado in the UK. It all started following his brother Yoan posted a video online on Sunday February 6 showing the sportsman kicking and then slapping one of his two cats. According to a relative of the defender of the France team and the West Ham club, he was angry because his cat had broken a vase and a lamp. In the background of the video, the laughter of the brother.
In the UK, pets are sacred
The player may have apologized quickly and ensured that his two cats “are loved and cherished” and that this “isolated incident” would not be repeated, the video sparked a flood of insults and anger on social networks. In the UK, pets are sacred. “We noticed that people found this video funny,” said Maggie Roberts, a member of a charity organization for the protection of cats. “However, the police work closely with the RSPCA to investigate cases of animal cruelty. »
The RSPCA, the British equivalent of the French SPA, is one of the most appreciated organizations by the British. In 2019, it investigated 93,362 animal cruelty complaints, prosecuted 1,685 people and secured 661 convictions. In the Zouma case, she let it be known that the player had given her his two cats “for a health check” and that’“they will remain at the RSPCA as long as the investigation continues”.
Animal welfare, in search of a third way
West Ham may have made the situation worse by playing Kurt Zouma on Tuesday night once morest Watford, “because he is one of our best players”, justified his trainer. Throughout the match, the Frenchman was booed at each touch of the ball by opposing supporters as well as those of his club. The anger of Internet users then redoubled. Celebrities got involved. London Mayor Sadiq Khan was even asked regarding this in a TV interview: “It is despicable, and action must be taken urgently, he let know. The RSPCA and the police must act to prosecute this player. »
Evacuation of dogs and cats from Afghanistan
The British have a passion for pets, to the point that 27% of them financed in 2020 charities committed to the animal cause. More of them donate for animals than for associations caring for children (24%), the homeless (19%), the disabled (10%) or the elderly (7%). In August, an adviser to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, allowed the evacuation by plane of 173 dogs and cats from Afghanistan.
Kurt Zouma was fined by his club the equivalent of two weeks’ salary (€290,000), and Adidas terminated his sponsorship contract. Ultimately, it is his career in the Premier League (English football championship) that might be compromised.
