Kurt Zouma’s brother has been suspended by his own football team for filming the disgraced star’s cat-kicking video as pressure mounts on West Ham to dump the £29million star from their squad.
In a statement about its player Yoan Zouma, Dagenham and Redbridge FC said today: ‘Yoan was this week contacted by the RSPCA to assist in their investigation and is fully cooperating with them.
‘However, Dagenham & Redbridge FC would again like to reiterate that it condemns any form of cruelty towards animals and fully understands the reaction of many of its supporters.
‘The Club has therefore decided that until the RSPCA has completed its investigations, Yoan will not play for Dagenham & Redbridge in any competitive match. Any further action deemed necessary to be taken will be made at the conclusion of the RSPCA investigation.’
Zouma’s cats were seized as sponsors ditched West Ham following outrage over his sickening attack.
The 27-year-old has also been fined £250,000 — two weeks’ wages — by the club’s bosses in a dramatic U-turn after their decision to play him on Tuesday evening. But West Ham have refused to suspend Zouma, despite the anger towards the French international.
The defender had uploaded footage to Snapchat showing him dropkicking his Bengal cat and slapping it out of his son’s arms just 48 hours before the game — where he was booed by his own fans.
West Ham were roundly condemned for starting him against Watford but yesterday reversed their position after key sponsors sought to distance themselves from the club and player.
It also emerged Zouma could be jailed for up to four years in his native France under beefed-up animal welfare laws introduced last year. The RSPCA confirmed it had taken his two cats for a check-up at the vets ‘and they will remain in our care while the investigation continues’.
More than 280,000 people have now signed an online petition on Change.org, started by Anti Animal Abuse, calling for Zouma to be prosecuted amid a growing public backlash.
Brigitte Bardot called for Zouma to be dropped from the French national team and has contacted the country’s prosecutors demanding they take action.
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