West Ham defender Kurt Zouma is set to appear in court over alleged offences of animal cruelty after video footage of him appearing to kick his cat emerged earlier this year.
The Frenchman has been a key player for the Hammers, but this saga has cast a shadow over his season, with the 27-year-old spotted kicking and slapping his pet cat on Instagram.
Zouma is now due to appear in court, while his brother Yoan, also a footballer, is also facing charges after appearing in court.
According to the Mirror: “Kurt is accused of causing “unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, by kicking and slapping a cat”, in contravention of section 4 subsection 1 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Kurt is also alleged to have failed to “protect the animal from pain suffering injury or disease”.”
Zouma joined West Ham from Chelsea and previously had loan spells at Everton and Stoke City.