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Original poster

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

355 replies

Gonnagetgoing · 08/02/2022 13:48

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

OP posts:
PotatoGoblins · 09/02/2022 18:18

I’m a lifelong West Ham fan and also an animal lover. What Zouma did was awful, and definitely shouldn’t have been filmed. As much as any kind of animal abuse turns my stomach a bit, I feel like it’s been blown a bit out of proportion considering what else goes on pretty regularly in the football world Hmm Racial abuse of players, death threats made against players, match fixing accusations, sexual assault and rape allegations/convictions etc. Kicking a cat is t exactly on par with those things in my world.
I’ll admit, it was a bit tone deaf of David Moyes to still have him in the starting line-up last night though Hmm Should have benched him at least.

Newfluff · 09/02/2022 18:20

@PotatoGoblins

I’m a lifelong West Ham fan and also an animal lover. What Zouma did was awful, and definitely shouldn’t have been filmed. As much as any kind of animal abuse turns my stomach a bit, I feel like it’s been blown a bit out of proportion considering what else goes on pretty regularly in the football world Hmm Racial abuse of players, death threats made against players, match fixing accusations, sexual assault and rape allegations/convictions etc. Kicking a cat is t exactly on par with those things in my world. I’ll admit, it was a bit tone deaf of David Moyes to still have him in the starting line-up last night though Hmm Should have benched him at least.
Ah OK, because football is a cesspit we should ignore it.

Why should he get away with it and a primary school teacher not?

CleanUpTime · 09/02/2022 18:22

Sponsors have started to withdraw now- think Vitality was the first one

BABAHOTEL · 09/02/2022 18:22

@PotatoGoblins

I’m a lifelong West Ham fan and also an animal lover. What Zouma did was awful, and definitely shouldn’t have been filmed. As much as any kind of animal abuse turns my stomach a bit, I feel like it’s been blown a bit out of proportion considering what else goes on pretty regularly in the football world Hmm Racial abuse of players, death threats made against players, match fixing accusations, sexual assault and rape allegations/convictions etc. Kicking a cat is t exactly on par with those things in my world. I’ll admit, it was a bit tone deaf of David Moyes to still have him in the starting line-up last night though Hmm Should have benched him at least.
Blown out of proportion? So what should've happened? No RSPCA investigation? Don't take the cats away? What element is showing blown out of proportion in your opinion?

Shouldn't have been filmed? Why so it could be downplayed and ignored? WTF?

Yes, there are worse crimes you may say, but that doesn't make it "blown out of proportion".

BABAHOTEL · 09/02/2022 18:24

@CleanUpTime

Sponsors have started to withdraw now- think Vitality was the first one
Excellent!
saraclara · 09/02/2022 18:26

@astroboy45

What he did was disgusting but this is some people in a nutshell. Black players receive racial abuse all the time. One just received heavy abuse after losing penalties in the FA cup, I didn’t see anyone rush to start writing a thread about that. Physical violence against a cat, oh yeah everyone’s up in arms. A cat’s life is more important than those black players who receive constant racial abuse. It’s laughable really
I agree with you that people often are far more reactive to animal cruelty than to things like racism. It normally really annoys me.

But then I saw the video. This excuse for a man literally picked up the cat and then drop-kicked it cross the kitchen. Once you see that you can't remain uninvolved. I would imagine that the cat's ribs are broken.

It's not just thinking about the cat. It's wondering what on earth kind of man can do that. And what is he capable of doin to his kids or his wife?

So yes, it's shocking and though I'd normally be tempted into a bit of whataboutery when there's an outcry about an animal, this is more about a clearly violent and abusive man.

saraclara · 09/02/2022 18:27

I feel like it’s been blown a bit out of proportion

Have you seen the video, @PotatoGoblins?

ClaudineClare · 09/02/2022 18:27

Racial abuse of players, death threats made against players, match fixing accusations, sexual assault and rape allegations/convictions etc

It is possible to care about all those things and about wanton cruelty to animals. There are threads on MN about all the football related issues you mention.

DirectionToPerfection · 09/02/2022 18:28

@PotatoGoblins

I’m a lifelong West Ham fan and also an animal lover. What Zouma did was awful, and definitely shouldn’t have been filmed. As much as any kind of animal abuse turns my stomach a bit, I feel like it’s been blown a bit out of proportion considering what else goes on pretty regularly in the football world Hmm Racial abuse of players, death threats made against players, match fixing accusations, sexual assault and rape allegations/convictions etc. Kicking a cat is t exactly on par with those things in my world. I’ll admit, it was a bit tone deaf of David Moyes to still have him in the starting line-up last night though Hmm Should have benched him at least.
He intentionally caused pain and suffering to a living creature, just for a laugh. And in front of his child.

I'm sick of the excuses and the whataboutery. Calling out abusive behaviour in all its forms is the right thing to do, I don't understand this need of some posters to limit it to only the most 'worthy' situations.

There's something wrong in these peoples heads, and people who are violent towards animals often treat women and children the same way.

ilovesooty · 09/02/2022 18:29

@CleanUpTime

Sponsors have started to withdraw now- think Vitality was the first one
Adidas have dropped their sponsorship of Zouma too.

Good.

TheOnlyMrsMac · 09/02/2022 18:29

@PotatoGoblins

I’m a lifelong West Ham fan and also an animal lover. What Zouma did was awful, and definitely shouldn’t have been filmed. As much as any kind of animal abuse turns my stomach a bit, I feel like it’s been blown a bit out of proportion considering what else goes on pretty regularly in the football world Hmm Racial abuse of players, death threats made against players, match fixing accusations, sexual assault and rape allegations/convictions etc. Kicking a cat is t exactly on par with those things in my world. I’ll admit, it was a bit tone deaf of David Moyes to still have him in the starting line-up last night though Hmm Should have benched him at least.
Thank heavens it was filmed. The video means the cats are now out of that abusive home and it is evidence in the RSPCA/police investigation.

As for the rest of the issues you mention, this is whataboutery. It all matters, including animal cruelty, and must be addressed.

Personally, I'd rather a match was fixed than a pet violently abused and in front of a child.

LindyLou2020 · 09/02/2022 18:30

As other PPs have said, you can be outraged and upset about a footballer sadistically hurting his cat, AND be outraged and upset about other forms of abuse as well. I certainly am.
I do think it's totally unreasonable and disingenuous for some PPs to accuse people of caring more about a cat than, say, verbal and online racial abuse of black footballers.
Both forms of abuse are despicable, abhorrent, and unforgiveable.
But there is at least one crucial difference - the cat is a very small animal, it was physically, not verbally, abused, and had no means of defending itself.

ilovesooty · 09/02/2022 18:32

This family is so obviously dysfunctional that social services should be looking at the safety of the child in the video and any other children exposed to Zouma and his brother.

DontWantTheRivalry · 09/02/2022 18:40

I can’t bring myself to watch the video as it would break my heart.

It’s absolutely disgusting and as for the West Ham supporter upthread dismissing it as being “blown out of proportion….” well it’s all just horrifying.

What a disgusting man that footballer is how anyone could think differently is beyond me.

I’m so so glad he got booed last night - and especially by his own fans - because it’s just proves how so disgusted people are by his actions.

I hope he feels utterly ashamed of himself.

GreenLunchBox · 09/02/2022 18:42

@LindyLou2020

As other PPs have said, you can be outraged and upset about a footballer sadistically hurting his cat, AND be outraged and upset about other forms of abuse as well. I certainly am. I do think it's totally unreasonable and disingenuous for some PPs to accuse people of caring more about a cat than, say, verbal and online racial abuse of black footballers. Both forms of abuse are despicable, abhorrent, and unforgiveable. But there is at least one crucial difference - the cat is a very small animal, it was physically, not verbally, abused, and had no means of defending itself.
No its not disingenuous because some pundit was on BBC breakfast this morning saying Zouma deserves all the abuse he's going to get everywhere he goes because what he did was worse than the racism players go through. Dan Walker didn't even challenge him on this. That's when I was over this cat story. I wish people would focus this energy and outrage on racism in football.
BABAHOTEL · 09/02/2022 18:47

@GreenLunchBox one pundit is not reflective of everyone!

saraclara · 09/02/2022 18:48

some pundit was on BBC breakfast this morning saying Zouma deserves all the abuse he's going to get everywhere he goes because what he did was worse than the racism players go through. Dan Walker didn't even challenge him on this

That's absolutely appalling.

PlanetNormal · 09/02/2022 18:50

The RSPCA are a charity. They are not the police, despite their cosplay uniforms and silly job titles, eg ‘inspector’. They have no legal powers to enter a property or confiscate any animals in that property. Zouma should have told them to piss off.

BABAHOTEL · 09/02/2022 18:55

@PlanetNormal

The RSPCA are a charity. They are not the police, despite their cosplay uniforms and silly job titles, eg ‘inspector’. They have no legal powers to enter a property or confiscate any animals in that property. Zouma should have told them to piss off.
Really??
WowIlikereallyhateyou · 09/02/2022 18:56

@ilovesooty

This family is so obviously dysfunctional that social services should be looking at the safety of the child in the video and any other children exposed to Zouma and his brother.
Correct, it starts with animal abuse and goes from there.

I genuinely do not get what is wrong with these young football players, first rape and beating of a girlfriend, now another abusing animals. There is something seriously wrong at grass roots level, they seem to think they are above the law or are some kind of gods. Should both be sacked and careers ended.

Xsliceoftoast · 09/02/2022 18:56

So far the cats have been removed and he has been fined £250,000.

At least the cats are safe.

LexMitior · 09/02/2022 18:57

Abusing animals is pretty unusual - its a psychological indicator for sadism. This crummy human being perhaps doesn't understand that the rest of society have just seen him for what he is.

CrinklyCraggy · 09/02/2022 18:58

@Xsliceoftoast

So far the cats have been removed and he has been fined £250,000.

At least the cats are safe.

And Adidas have cancelled his sponsorship deal.

Plus two sponsors have suspended their deal with West Ham

astroboy45 · 09/02/2022 18:59

@BABAHOTEL of course not! I’m not saying you have to choose between which situation to care about or sign petitions for. Even regarding the situations at the Euros, many people speak about racial abuse being wrong but then there’s those that don’t see it as a MAJOR issue. Something involving an animal tho, every single person thinks that’s bad and has something to say about it.

@TooTiredForAdventure thanks for the links but again, my point wasn’t that no one in the world cares. My point was is that it seems when things have to do with an animal or mistreatment of an animal, everyone has an opinion or something to say. Racism in football occurs so often it’s almost like people are like err no biggie. I would literally bet my life that every single person that’s commented on this thread or felt disgusted by what he’s done has not had the same energy when it comes to racism in football. I’m not saying no one in the world cares. That’s all🤷‍♀️

BABAHOTEL · 09/02/2022 19:01

[quote astroboy45]@BABAHOTEL of course not! I’m not saying you have to choose between which situation to care about or sign petitions for. Even regarding the situations at the Euros, many people speak about racial abuse being wrong but then there’s those that don’t see it as a MAJOR issue. Something involving an animal tho, every single person thinks that’s bad and has something to say about it.

@TooTiredForAdventure thanks for the links but again, my point wasn’t that no one in the world cares. My point was is that it seems when things have to do with an animal or mistreatment of an animal, everyone has an opinion or something to say. Racism in football occurs so often it’s almost like people are like err no biggie. I would literally bet my life that every single person that’s commented on this thread or felt disgusted by what he’s done has not had the same energy when it comes to racism in football. I’m not saying no one in the world cares. That’s all🤷‍♀️[/quote]
@astroboy45 every single person worries about animals more? not even every single on this thread does that!

You're talking total and utter nonsense and whataboutery.