WEST Ham defender, Kurt Zouma, has been charged with three offences under the Animal Welfare Act after allegedly kicking and slapping his cat, Eurosport reports on Monday.
An RSPCA investigation was launched after a video – filmed by Zouma’s brother Yoan – appeared on social media in February. The video, posted on social media, caused outrage with the RSPCA removing Zouma’s two cats from his care.
An investigation – with the help of Essex Police – was launched and Zouma will now face a court hearing, alongside his brother, Yoan.
The West Ham defender was never suspended by his club, but received a hefty fine of two weeks’ wages, while he also lost a number of high-profile sponsors as a result of the incident.
The animal welfare charity removed two cats from the home of the Premier League player following the incident, and have worked alongside Essex Police since.
Zouma is accused of two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and one count of breaching animal welfare duty.
The brothers will appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday for a first hearing – with Yoan Zouma charged with two counts of “aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring” Kurt to commit the offence.
Yoan is also a footballer, but has not played for Dagenham and Redbridge since the incident.
