“The two cats are now in RSPCA treatment,” a charity spokesperson said, including that they were being continuing to investigate the incident along with police.
Far more than 100,000 men and women had signed a petition contacting for Zouma to be punished after the video, which was initially shared to Snapchat, was seen by hundreds of thousands.
The online video was very first posted Monday by British tabloid the Sunlight. In the footage, laughter can be listened to as the 27-year-aged, who also plays for the French national staff, is seen chasing the animal around his residence in the county of Essex.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan stated Wednesday that Zouma had “been cruel to a helpless cat,” and referred to as on law enforcement and the RSPCA to prosecute the participant.
Khan also claimed, “I think West Ham … as his employer require to acquire action,” noting that several check out footballers as part models.
Police in Essex told BBC Essex “urgent enquiries are ongoing” and that they are liaising with the RSPCA. Next the video and the backlash that followed, West Ham United stated it would “deal with the make any difference internally,” the BBC reported.
Countless numbers on social media branded the footage “sick” and “disturbing,” even though animal welfare teams and charities these as the Blue Cross condemned Zouma’s behavior and also joined calls for him to be prosecuted.
“The sheer level of violence is entirely disgraceful,” the Blue Cross informed the BBC on Wednesday.
Zouma has apologized for his steps in the video, declaring both equally his cats ended up “perfectly fine” and “cherished by the total household.”
“I also want to say how deeply sorry I am to any one who was upset by the online video,” he said in a assertion Tuesday, adding that the incident would “not take place again.”
On Wednesday, previous England footballer Gary Lineker tweeted he was “shocked and appalled” that West Ham football club had selected Zouma to play in a match towards Watford on Tuesday evening despite the mounting outrage, calling it “a tone deaf decision” by the team’s supervisor, David Moyes.
Even though Moyes stated he was “disappointed” in the player, he defended his choice to play Zouma on Tuesday, declaring he was concentrated on acquiring benefits in the recreation — and that the cat problem was a “separate matter.”
Khan also stated he was “disappointed” in the club’s decision to place Zouma on the pitch Tuesday night time.
Zouma was booed from the stands on Tuesday, as some followers chanted “that is how your cat feels” when the participant stumbled about and fell to the pitch in evident agony through the match.
Chants referencing animal charities have been also read, with Watford admirers yelling “RSCPA” when the player was in possession of the ball.