Footballer Kurt Zouma has been fined £250,000 by West Ham after a video emerged him of dropping, kicking and slapping a cat.
The French international’s two cats were yesterday taken into care by the RSPCA, which is investigating the attack and co-operating with police.
And last night Adidas dropped it’s sponsorship deal with him.
Over 220,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the 27-year-old Hammers defender to be prosecuted.
Zouma, who has apologised, was fined two weeks’ wages which will be donated to animal welfare charities.
West Ham said: “The club is supporting an RSPCA investigation.
“Kurt and the club are co-operating fully with the investigation and [he] 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.
“Kurt is extremely remorseful and, like everyone at the club, fully understands the depth of feeling surrounding the incident and the need for action.”
But conservationist Chris Packham called for Zouma to be prosecuted and slammed West Ham for playing him against Watford on Tuesday night.
He told the Mirror: “They should have taken sanctions to send a clear message that West Ham, the Premiership and sport and football generally would not tolerate animal abuse.
He should not have been on the field.”
Vitality confirmed it was suspending sponsorship as West Ham’s official wellness partner and would be “further engaging with the club to understand what actions they will be taking to address the situation”.
Heineken UK, West Ham’s beer and cider partner, was “appalled” at the video and welcomed the actions the club was taking.
Adidas said: “We have concluded our investigation and can confirm Kurt Zouma is no longer an adidas contracted athlete.”
