Kurt Zouma, 27, of West Ham United has been dismissed by Adidas just two days after a video surfaced showing the French footballer striking his pet cats in his kitchen.
Adidas stated, “We have conducted our inquiry and can affirm Kurt Zouma is no longer an Adidas contracted athlete.”
The athletic apparel manufacturer previously stated that “no animal should be subjected to harsh and unjustified abuse.”
Since the video’s release, the player has faced social media outrage, with over 225,000 people signing an online petition calling for Zouma’s prosecution.
Zouma apologized, but Essex Police acknowledged that “urgent investigations” were being conducted in collaboration with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
The RSPCA has been notified and the two cats have been transported to be assessed. “Our first and foremost focus is and always has been the welfare of these cats,” an RSPCA representative stated.
SEE VIDEO OF ZOUMA KICKING CAT BELOW
“They’ve been transported to a veterinarian for a check-up and will stay in our custody while the investigation is ongoing. We’d want to express our gratitude to everyone who voiced concern about these pets. We were investigating this matter prior to the video going public and are now heading the inquiry. We are still conducting an investigation and hence cannot speak further at this time.”
West Ham have criticized their player’s behavior and stated that the situation will be resolved internally. Additionally, the club fined Zouma £250,000, which will be donated to animal protection organizations.
Earlier in the day on Wednesday, the footballer lost his sponsorship agreement with Vitality, a health-related company.
Zouma, on the other hand, was included in the team by coach David Moyes for Tuesday’s win over Watford.
Moyes stated that Zouma will be eligible for selection until the conclusion of the club’s internal investigation.
After the video surfaced, Moyes justified his choice to start Zouma against Watford, stating that “he is one of our better players.”
Moyes stated following West Ham’s 1-0 victory over Watford, in which Zouma played the whole 90 minutes: “Yes, he will continue to be available. The remainder will be handled by the club. I’ll be in charge of the football team.”
