West Ham fines defender Kurt Zouma 'maximum amount' for slapping and kicking cat in video

By Hannah Ryan, CNN

Updated 1804 GMT (0204 HKT) February 9, 2022

West Ham United has fined Kurt Zouma the «maximum amount possible» following video footage in which he is shown kicking and slapping a cat

(CNN)West Ham United's French international defender Kurt Zouma has been fined by the English Premier League club and is facing an investigation from the UK's leading animal welfare charity after a video emerged online that showed him kicking and slapping a cat.

On Wednesday, West Ham released a statement on its website, saying Zouma and the club are «co-operating fully» with an investigation by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) — the UK's leading animal welfare charity.The statement added «the player has willingly complied with the steps taken in the initial stage of the process, including delivering his family's two cats to the RSPCA for assessment.»The fine and RSPCA investigation comes after Zouma was filmed seemingly hurling shoes at his pet cat, slapping it across the face, chasing it around the room and kicking it across the floor in what looks to be a private residence.The video was first published by the Sun newspaper on Monday. Laughter could be heard in the background of the footage. CNN has not independently verified the video.West Ham United defender Kurt Zouma filmed kicking and slapping cat Read MoreWest Ham added that the French defender is «extremely remorseful and, like everyone at the club, fully understands the depth of feeling surrounding the incident and the need for action to be taken.»The club also said Zouma had been fined for the actions: «Separate to the RSPCA's investigation and pending further sanction once the outcome of that process is determined, West Ham