Premier league footballer kicks cat and gets away with it...

[Gonnagetgoing]

A footballer Kurt Zouma (apologies if already been mentioned here) has been videoed kicking his cat and chasing it yet West Ham says they've condemned his actions and he's apologised.

AIBU to be disgusted with him?

foul foul man

@SportsMother

They aren’t stringent enough….in your opinion. If you want to change them, get elected and change them.

Presumably he will get convicted and punished (and as the law stands) once he has done the crime plus the time he’s entitled to go back to his life.

I really don’t think the role model excuse for extra punishment is OK. He is a professional footballer, so what?

In my opinion? Nah mate. In the opinion of the vast majority of the country.

Just 'get elected' haha ok then.

I don't think it should be extra punishment. I think it needs to be the norm. Abuse animals / children. Lose a public facing job. Simple.

He's scum. He shouldn't be idolised

@SportsMother

and I had never heard of him until this incident.

How many professional footballers would you recognise walking down the street? Half a dozen maybe, not even the whole of the England team?

I'd heard of him as I follow football. I'd recognise an awful lot more than half a dozen. What a silly thing to say

Can't believe the people on here defending him. Have you watched the video? How can anyone see that and feel anything other than horrified?

Trying to make this a race issue is bizarre.

@SportsMother

No-one is defending him. He did something horrible (and illegal).

But for everyone losing their head on this thread I am going to say “Luke McCormick” every single time. That is the standard that English people have set for crime, punishment and rehabilitation.

You sure come across like you're defending him.

I'm not English myself and have no idea who Luke McCormack is or what he has done, but it's more than a bit odd to collectively judge the people of an entire nation. Would most English people have any idea what you're talking about here?

You can say like McCormack. I'm going to shout David Goodwillie, and Raith Rovers.

Aye there's a muckle stooshie on the Scottish city of Raith the noo.

Again, ignoring the goady and whataboutery...

A group of West Ham supporters backing Zouma have been filmed pre-match in a pub kicking an inflatable cat around. Chants heard included: 'Kurt Zouma, woah, Kurt Zouma woah, he is our centre back, he kicks his f*g cat' and 'Kurt Zouma is magic, he wears a magic hat, and if you throw a cat at him, he'll kick the fr back.'

This is one of the many reasons why he shouldn't be playing for the team or France. It sends the wrong message to low life like that, and also to the more impressionable younger football fans and to men living in homes with pets, children and women around the world. Behaviour in the public eye or public-facing roles matters. We need positive role models, and to get rid of the negative ones and make an example of them.

Thats awful if the so called fans did that, surely they can be identified and banned from matches. West Ham have contributed to the anger and disgust shown by people and he should have been suspended immediately, it was obvious what he did, it was obvious there would be a backlash and he would be booed and they put him in that position. I really hope that West Ham actually take action.

@TheOnlyMrsMac

Again, ignoring the goady and whataboutery...

A group of West Ham supporters backing Zouma have been filmed pre-match in a pub kicking an inflatable cat around. Chants heard included: 'Kurt Zouma, woah, Kurt Zouma woah, he is our centre back, he kicks his f*g cat' and 'Kurt Zouma is magic, he wears a magic hat, and if you throw a cat at him, he'll kick the fr back.'

This is one of the many reasons why he shouldn't be playing for the team or France. It sends the wrong message to low life like that, and also to the more impressionable younger football fans and to men living in homes with pets, children and women around the world. Behaviour in the public eye or public-facing roles matters. We need positive role models, and to get rid of the negative ones and make an example of them.

Jesus Christ.

There are some utter scum in this world.

This is why he shouldn't be allowed to continue with football. I agree.

But some posters are ok with this sort of attitude obviously

Hopefully the media and tv will show these complete wankers behaving like this

@TheOnlyMrsMac

Again, ignoring the goady and whataboutery...

A group of West Ham supporters backing Zouma have been filmed pre-match in a pub kicking an inflatable cat around. Chants heard included: 'Kurt Zouma, woah, Kurt Zouma woah, he is our centre back, he kicks his f*g cat' and 'Kurt Zouma is magic, he wears a magic hat, and if you throw a cat at him, he'll kick the fr back.'

This is one of the many reasons why he shouldn't be playing for the team or France. It sends the wrong message to low life like that, and also to the more impressionable younger football fans and to men living in homes with pets, children and women around the world. Behaviour in the public eye or public-facing roles matters. We need positive role models, and to get rid of the negative ones and make an example of them.

@TheOnlyMrsMac - that is awful.

Some idiotic twattish fans think it's ok to minimise Zouma's behaviour and they get away with it as they're low life or impressionable.

@DirectionToPerfection

Can't believe the people on here defending him. Have you watched the video? How can anyone see that and feel anything other than horrified?

Trying to make this a race issue is bizarre.

@DirectionToPerfection - what I said - to bring race into it - well Mihail whoever he is - has shown himself up to be an idiot by bringing race into it when race has nothing to do with an animal abuse incident.

@TheOnlyMrsMac

Again, ignoring the goady and whataboutery...

A group of West Ham supporters backing Zouma have been filmed pre-match in a pub kicking an inflatable cat around. Chants heard included: 'Kurt Zouma, woah, Kurt Zouma woah, he is our centre back, he kicks his f*g cat' and 'Kurt Zouma is magic, he wears a magic hat, and if you throw a cat at him, he'll kick the fr back.'

This is one of the many reasons why he shouldn't be playing for the team or France. It sends the wrong message to low life like that, and also to the more impressionable younger football fans and to men living in homes with pets, children and women around the world. Behaviour in the public eye or public-facing roles matters. We need positive role models, and to get rid of the negative ones and make an example of them.

That is utterly disgusting. I agree with you completely.

Moyes was asked in his post match interview on Sky Sports to justify selecting Zouma and in the studio Zouma's behaviour was roundly condemned.

That segment of the interview wasn't broadcast on BBC Match of the Day 2 later on and the subject was studiously ignored by the presenter and the pundits.

Very glad to see that 'Sir' Mark Todd has been suspended by the British Horseracing Authority pending an animal cruelty investigation after a video emerged of him hitting a horse ten times with a branch. I really hope they throw the book at him.

Meanwhile, West Ham think it is the right thing to do not to suspend Kurt Zouma?

An RSPCA statement said: "Following a full and thorough investigation, we have started the process of bringing a prosecution against Kurt Zouma and Yoan Zouma under the Animal Welfare Act.

"The two cats continue to be cared for by the RSPCA. We will be in a position to release more information once a court date is confirmed."

Both charged and in court tomorrow:
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61550710

Bump

Good, I hope they throw the book at them!

Kurt and Yoan Zouma arriving at court this morning:
www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/12620265/kurt-zouma-arrives-at-court-for-animal-welfare-offences
Guilty pleas:
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61563971

I understand neither of them has pleaded guilty to all the charges against them:
two out of three in KZ's case and one out of two in YZ's case. More details should be available shortly.

Actually, that was just KZ under those umbrellas, hired muscle and hood. I have more respect for YZ, who walked to court with his solicitor and faced the cameras.

Sentencing has been adjourned until 1st June:
www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12620294/kurt-zouma-west-ham-defender-pleads-guilty-to-kicking-and-slapping-cat

I hope they jail them, but sadly I don't think it will happen.