Vitality suspend sponsorship deal with West Ham, while Adidas drop Zouma

Kurt Zouma's two cats have been taken into the care of the RSPCA and the defender has been fined "the maximum amount possible" by West Ham following the mistreatment of his pet.

Zouma, who played against Watford in the Premier League on Tuesday night, has been widely condemned after a video emerged of him dropping, kicking and slapping the animal.

The RSPCA swiftly rebuked the "very upsetting" video after it surfaced online and will be leading the investigation while co-operating with Essex Police.

More than 175,000 people have signed an online petition on Change.org, started by Anti Animal Abuse, calling for Zouma to be prosecuted amid a growing public backlash.

Those calls were echoed by the London Mayor Sadiq Khan

The RSPCA confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that the cats were now in its care and will stay with them until the investigation is over.

The Hammers subsequently announced 27-year-old France international Zouma, who has apologised, had been fined two weeks' wages - reported to be in the region of £250,000. This money will be donated to animal welfare charities.

A club statement read:

"West Ham United can confirm that the club is supporting an RSPCA investigation into the actions of Kurt Zouma in the video circulated online this week.

"Kurt and the club are co-operating fully with the investigation and 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.

"Kurt 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.

"Separate to the RSPCA's investigation and pending further sanction once the outcome of that process is determined, West Ham United can confirm that Kurt Zouma has been fined the maximum amount possible following his actions in the video that circulated.

"The player has immediately accepted the fine, which will be donated to animal welfare charities.

"West Ham United would like to reiterate our condemnation of Kurt's actions and make it clear that the matter continues to be handled with the utmost seriousness.

"However, we believe it is now important to allow the RSPCA to conduct their investigation in a fair and thorough manner, and will be making no further comment at this stage."

The RSPCA said it had been dealing with the issue before the video went viral and would continue its investigations.

"The two cats are now in RSPCA care," a RSPCA spokesperson said. "Our priority is and has always been the wellbeing of these cats.

"They've been taken for a check-up at a vets and then will remain in our care while the investigation continues.

"We're grateful to everyone who expressed their concern for these cats. We were dealing with this issue before the video went viral online and are leading the investigation.

"We continue to investigate so we cannot comment further at this time."

National pet charity Blue Cross described the incident as "truly horrifying" and called for Zouma to face prosecution.

Cats Protection's director of veterinary services Dr Maggie Roberts said the decision to select Zouma against Watford "sends an appalling message to fans and the wider public".

West Ham United Supporters' Trust suggested Zouma should spend time with the RSPCA to "see the consequences of his own actions".

Conservationist Chris Packham branded the decision to select Zouma against the Hornets as an "absolute disgrace", while former England captain Gary Lineker labelled it a "tone-deaf decision".

Adidas - the defender's official kit supplier - has dropped their deal with him.

Vitality confirmed on Wednesday afternoon 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".

In a statement they said;

"We were very distressed by the video we have seen of Kurt Zouma. At Vitality, we condemn animal cruelty and violence of any kind," Vitality, a provider of health insurance, life insurance, car insurance and investments, said in a statement.

"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."

A spokesperson for Heineken UK, West Ham's beer and cider partner, said it was "appalled at the contents of the video" and welcomed the actions the club were taking.

Meanwhile in France, animal rights group the 30 Million Friends Foundation condemned the "heinous act".

The campaigners have called for Zouma to be suspended from the national team and confirmed a complaint had been filed against him under the French penal code, which applies to citizens committing offences outside of the country.

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