RSPCA deny West Ham’s claims of donation and education programme for Kurt Zouma after cat abuse video

The RSPCA have claimed West Ham haven’t discussed animal welfare courses or offered a donation to the organisation after defender Kurt Zouma was filmed abusing his cats.

The Frenchman was captured dropping, kicking and slapping his pets in a video filmed by his brother Yoan.

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Fellow footballer Yoan has been suspended by his club Dagenham & Redbridge, but Kurt was allowed to play for West Ham the day after the footage emerged.

The French international was greeted with boos as the Hammers beat Watford 1-0, and manager David Moyes came under pressure for selecting the defender following the incident.

Moyes has confirmed that Zouma will remain in his selection plans, while he has been fined a maximum of two weeks wages, amounting to around £250,000, and his cats have been seized.

Club vice-chairman Karren Brady has said the fine will go to animal welfare charities and Zouma will undergo the relevant educational programmes supported by the RSPCA.

However, the organisation has now refuted those claims.

The RSPCA put out a statement on February 9 saying they were investigating the incident and the cats are now safe and in their care, and have now followed that with an update.

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“Our focus remains entirely on our experienced officers carrying out a full and thorough investigation,” the organisation posted.

“No plans have been made for animal welfare courses to be undertaken.”

In a series of replies the RSPCA then made their position even clearer, saying: “This was a fine set by the club. The RSPCA has not been offered or accepted a donation.”

Zouma is set to start again when West Ham continue their Champions League push against Leicester, despite the Frenchman losing boot sponsor adidas, and Vitality suspending their sponsorship of the club.