News

West Ham 'supporting an RSPCA investigation' as Vitality suspend sponsorship following Kurt Zouma incident


 

Vitality have suspended their West Ham United sponsorship in light of the events surrounding centre-back Kurt Zouma, who was filmed kicking and slapping his cat in shocking footage released on Monday night.

West Ham's official wellness partner, Vitality, have been 'hugely disappointed by the judgement shown by the club subsequent to the incident'.

Zouma, who apologised on social media, started in his side's 1-0 win over Watford on Tuesday evening, with David Moyes claiming 'he'll learn from it [but] today I had to pick a football team that gave me the best chance of winning the game as manager of West Ham.'

They are not the only sponsorship deal at risk, either, with Experience Kissimmee also revealing that they are 'evaluating our relationship and sponsorship with the club' following Zouma's appearance in the Irons' defence on Tuesday evening.

West Ham to take action

And moments after the announcement surrounding Vitality was made, West Ham themselves issued a statement, in which they announced that Zouma has handed his cats to the RSPCA and that the Frenchman has been fined 2 weeks' wages, the maximum amount possible.

A full 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 both he and the Club agreed 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.

Read more:

Manchester United very keen to sign BVB defender who rejected latest contract offer

Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta provides Tomiyasu update & speaks out on lack of transfers

 

Ben Browning

Ben Browning

Football writer and analyst. Long-time writer of all things Arsenal and avid watcher of European football. Happy to discuss all things football over on Twitter.


Related Content