France Boss Didier Deschamps Reacts to Cat Attack by Kurt Zouma, Blasts West Ham Star for Action

France Boss Didier Deschamps Reacts to Cat Attack by Kurt Zouma, Blasts West Ham Star for Action

Babajide Orevba
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:56 PM
  • Didier Deschamps has expressed disappointment at Kurt Zouma who was seen in a clip kicking and slapping a cat
  • The France manager described the act by the West Ham United star as ‘intolerable and cruelty without a name’
  • Although he has been fined by West Ham United, Zouma who was in action in the midweek will also be available for selection when they face Leicester City on Sunday

The football world continues to react to the stunning video showing the moment Kurt Zouma kicked and clapped his cat, with France manager Didier Deschamps blasting the player, Mirror reports.

Zouma has been widely condemned for the act and the Frenchman is currently being investigated by the RSPCA and has lost his Adidas boot deal.

The 27-year-old has also received a two-week fine from West Ham United said to be worth around £250,000 - but the Premier League side have stopped short of suspending him.

Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps not happy with Kurt Zouma. Photo: Franck Fife
Source: Getty Images

Twenty-four hours after the footage went viral on the internet, Zouma was in the starting line-up in their win over Watford and manager David Moyes says the player will also be available for their game against Leicester City on Sunday.

The latest high-profile football icon to condemn the player for his action is France’ manager Didier Deschamps who said, as quoted by SPORTbible:

"I was very surprised by Kurt. This is something that is inadmissible, intolerable and cruelty without a name.
"I'm sure he became aware of it but these images are shocking and unbearable."
On Zouma's chances of being selected in the near future:
"I'm not a prosecutor. I am here to make selections on different criteria.
"It could have happened to me when players could have made mistakes not to select them for a while, so I will not change my way of doing things for the next list."

Zouma has picked up 11 caps for France since making his senior debut in 2015. He missed their recent World Cup and Nations League triumphs.

Michail Antonio defends Zouma

Meanwhile, Sports Brief earlier reported that West Ham United star Michail Antonio has leapt to the defence of teammate Kurt Zouma after fans call on the club to terminate the Frenchman’s contract for slapping and kicking his cat.

Consequently, his two cats have been taken into care by the RSPCA, and Zouma handed a £250,000 fine by the club - which will be donated to animal welfare charities.

It was also gathered that Adidas have also ended their £100,000-a-year contract with the player, but Antonio seems infuriated when asked about the situation.

Authors
Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
Tags
World