Graeme Souness pulled no punches in his assessment of Kurt Zouma, arguing he shouldn't have played again this season for West Ham United after footage emerged of the defender kicking his cat.
Zouma kept his place for West Ham's home game against Watford on Tuesday night, and was due to start against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium after being named in the starting XI, but withdrew from the game shortly before kick-off having reportedly felt unwell earlier in the day.
The French star has come in for plenty of criticism for his actions, including from international boss Didier Deschamps, though others have defended the Hammers' decision to continue picking him.
Souness did not mince his words on the matter, though, tearing into the former Chelsea defender while on punditry duty before the game.
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"I have zero sympathy for him," Souness said on Sky Sports' broadcast after Zouma was replaced by Issa Diop in the starting XI.
"He’s turned up today and got abuse from his own supporters. West Ham’s roots are in the east end of London, salt of the earth people. People that would not, the vast majority would not be accepting of it.
"I have major problems with it, for me looking at that video, that cat hadn’t done anything wrong. It was picked up and abused for entertainment. They’re laughing.
"The fact it goes out on social media suggests they didn’t think there was anything wrong with it, they thought people would find this amusing."
He was also critical of West Ham's handling of the situation, after recent comments from manager Moyes and vice-chairman Karren Brady.
"They have mismanaged it from day one.," Souness said.
"For me, I wouldn’t have played him again this year. If I was still a player I wouldn't want to be in the dressing room with him.
"I would not want him round the place till he showed real remorse."
Brady stressed the club did not condone Zouma's actions, but also emphasised the remorse shown by the player.
"I feel it is important and appropriate at this stage to stress that Kurt Zouma, the person, is entirely aware of the severity of his actions," she wrote in her Sun column.
"It has been said before but I can say it again now, because I have seen it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears - he is extremely remorseful."
Souness has been an outspoken supporter of animal rights, previously revealing that animal welfare was "the biggest single reason" behind his vegan diet.
"I think the way we treat animals is despicable, but that’s for another day," the former Liverpool manager revealed on Sky Sports earlier in the season.
"I’m in the process of having a new house built, I’ve air source heat pumps, I’ve got solar panels, so I’m aware of it, and I’m trying to do my wee bit.”
