‘What sort of a person are you to do something like that? – Laura Woods and Ally McCoist stunned by ‘sickening and pathetic’ video of Kurt Zouma abusing cat

The shocking video showing Kurt Zouma kicking and slapping a cat has been labelled ‘sickening, pathetic and bullying’, with Laura Woods and Ally McCoist passionately airing their disgust with the West Ham star's actions.

Zouma was forced to apologise after the disturbing footage surfaced online that showed the shocking treatment of his pet, while laughter could be heard in the background.

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West Ham condemned the 27-year-old’s actions in a strongly-worded statement following the publication of the clip, while the defender said he was ‘deeply sorry’.

The RSPCA also confirmed in a statement that they are investigating the complaints against the football.

talkSPORT presenters weighed in on the shocking footage and were disturbed by what they saw, with calls for West Ham punish the defender if the authorities won't.

Former Rangers and Scotland striker Ally McCoist said: “It was sickening, it was pathetic, it was bullying of the extreme. It again tarnished the image of professional footballers.

“It was embarrassing and shocking and horrible at the same time. It was all of those things.

“To commit and do the things he did is the most horrendous of crimes, however to film it and put it out.

“If you are talking about gross stupidity, I don’t know what level you are talking about there.”

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talkSPORT Breakfast host Laura Woods was not impressed with Zouma’s apology and was shocked by the way he was performing to the camera.

“For me, you got caught,” Woods said. “It’s not even that you just got caught, someone filmed you surreptitiously.

“Your mate or your brother, or whoever it was has filmed you and you are performing to the camera, thinking it is okay to act like that and treat a cat like that or any living creature like that. In front of your kid as well, by the way.

"What sort of a person are you when you do that to begin with? Secondly, what sort of person are you when you know it is being filmed, think it is funny to perform and then probably know it is going out on social media.

"I think there are some serious issues with that person.

“I don’t know how it’s going to dealt with now. For him to be doing that and to be filmed, he’s probably done it before.

"I just dread to think what the kids watching him think is acceptable. I dread to think what kids on social media then will look and think it is ok to do to their kids in their house."

The Sports Bar host Jason Cundy added: “It’s not just the video that is upsetting, it’s the way it has been filmed and shot. It’s what they are trying to get out of it.

“They are laughing and giggling. What I found worse isn’t the kick. The kick is bad, but what happens after when they torment it and clearly it is scared, hunting around a table.

“The slap around the head is the one for me, and the fact they enjoyed doing it.”

Former Premier League striker Darren Bent has also taken aim at the defender, saying Zouma let down his club and teammates by creating an unnecessary distraction for the in-form team.

And he claims West Ham will be forced to take action, despite the blow of losing one of their best players from the team.

“It’s so disturbing, it’s disgusting,” Bent told the talkSPORT Breakfast.

“I don’t know what the ramifications for Zouma are, but you know what people are like with their pets, they will not let this go. Surely the RSPCA will push for punishment.

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“If I’m a teammate, I’d be saying to him, ‘What are you doing? Why are you doing that? I think they’ll be angry. It’s a distraction West Ham don’t need. They’re having a really good year, just got through in the FA Cup, they’re pushing for the top-four in the Premier League, they don’t need this.

“Kurt Zouma has played well for them, by the way, he’s made a difference, but the club is going to have to decide how they are going to deal with this. 

“Do you put him straight back out there and say, ‘we know he’s done wrong but we need him’? They have to choose between ethics or results.”

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“Unfortunately his punishment will affect others,” remarked McCoist. “And it will be Declan Rice getting punished, Mark Noble getting punished, David Moyes, the West Ham fans, because I think they’ll have to leave him out of the team.”

Bent added: “His punishment will also be when he’s walking around the streets, because this video is everywhere and there are people who absolutely love animals and they will not let this go.”