February 11, (THEWILL) – Kurt Zouma is still eligible for selection for West Ham’s Premier League match against Leicester City on Sunday, according to manager David Moyes.
After worldwide condemnation over film of him dropping, kicking, and slapping one of his cats, Zouma was handed a maximum fine by West Ham this week, believed to be in the region of £250,000, as THEWILL reported.
Moyes sparked more debate when he chose Zouma to play in the Premier League against Watford on Tuesday, just 24 hours after the footage of Zouma was released.
Dagenham and Redbridge of the National League have suspended the player’s brother Yoan Zouma, who is believed to have filmed the video, while the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) investigates the incident.
However, Moyes has stated that he will not drop Zouma and that his choice to play him earlier this week was right: “Yes he’s available to play against Leicester. There are different views and opinions on should he be available. We as a club took that decision and I stand by that.”
More than 310,000 people have signed an online petition demanding that Zouma be charged, and Essex police have stated that they are working with the RSPCA as part of their “urgent inquiries.”
The RSPCA has taken Zouma’s animals away in the meanwhile.
West Ham has suffered significant financial losses as a result of the dispute, which has resulted in the loss of sponsorship relationships. Vitality, West Ham’s health partner, stated this week that their sponsorship of the club had been discontinued with immediate effect.
A statement from the company read: “We were very distressed by the video we have seen of Kurt Zouma. At Vitality, we condemn animal cruelty and violence of any kind.
“We are hugely disappointed by the judgement subsequently shown by the club in response to this incident. As such, we are suspending our sponsorship of West Ham United with immediate effect. We will now be further engaging with the club to understand what actions they will be taking to address the situation.”
After the defender was selected for Tuesday’s play, Experience Kissimmee, West Ham’s “official destination partner,” announced it “will be evaluating our relationship and sponsorship with the club,” while Adidas discontinued their partnership with the France international footballer.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
