There is a frightening reason why it is celebrated when Kurt Zouma loses duels. What many also find frightening is the reaction of his club West Ham United. There are consequences.
His hysterical laughter suggests that Kurt Zouma found it quite funny to kick and hit his cats as if they were toys, not living creatures. However, because an acquaintance filmed the abuse and this footage has now gone public, the West Ham defender may not have been laughing.
Inspired criticism followed, ranging from hostility on social media to chants of “That’s how your cat feels” after losing tackles. And consequences, too, in the meantime.
Two weeks’ salary: Zouma donates to animal welfare organisations
Industry giant Adidas has terminated the sponsorship of the 27-year-old, who was fined the highest possible amount by his club. Almost 300,000 euros sounds like a pretty painful sum for the Frenchman, who has apologised several times – but he will earn the amount he wants to donate to animal welfare organisations in a fortnight.
But it wasn’t just the player’s behaviour that pissed many people off, it was also that of his club – led by manager David Moyes, who had named Zouma in the starting eleven for Tuesday’s home win over Watford. Because he is “one of the better players”. Moyes is responsible for the sporting well-being of the club, the coach justified himself, even if he knows what many think about it. Furthermore, he described himself as an “animal lover”.
West Ham have also lost first deals – The cats are safe
In the meantime, however, Moyes and West Ham also felt the consequences of their player’s misconduct, with the London club also having two sponsorship deals terminated. The public reason given for these steps was disappointment at the club’s handling of the matter, which was making ever greater waves. A continuation could therefore follow.
Meanwhile, the club of the alleged cameraman showed a different way of dealing with the situation: Yoan Zouma, brother of Kurt, was suspended by his employer FC Dagenham & Redbridge until the investigation of the British animal welfare organisation RSPCA has been concluded.
The cats, by the way, are doing better in the meantime, the RSPCA has taken the two animals into their care.
