Kurt Zouma was controversially set to start for West Ham in their Premier League clash against Leicester City before he pulled out of the starting XI half an hour before kick off. Hammers boss David Moyes has faced strong criticism for selecting the Frenchman after the emergence of a video of the defender abusing his cat.
Footage revealed last Sunday showed Zouma hitting, slapping and kicking his pet while he and his brother, Dagenham and Redbridge footballer Yoan, laughed.
West Ham moved quickly to fine the 27-year-old £250,000 – the most that can be issued to a player under PFA guidelines and the equivalent of two weeks’ wages.
But Moyes received criticism for using Zouma in West Ham’s 1-0 win over Watford on Tuesday.
Zouma even received boos from his own supporters inside the London Stadium as he helped his side to victory.
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Moyes’ stance faced being undermined further when Dagenham and Redbridge suspended Yoan pending an RSPCA investigation. France head coach Didier Deschamps implied that Zouma would not be selected for upcoming internationals.
Despite that, Zouma was named in West Ham’s team for Sunday’s clash with Leicester. Moyes had insisted that the player would remain available for selection.
He was set to line up in a back four alongside Vladimir Coufal, Craig Dawson and Aaron Cresswell.
But Zouma was then seen pulling out of the pre-match warm up and was pictured in discussion with West Ham’s medical team.
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“I was very surprised by Kurt. It is something that is inadmissible, intolerable and cruelty without a name,” Deschamps told French media last week.
“I’m sure he became aware of it but these images are shocking and unbearable.”
Moyes, though, has avoided challenging Deschamps. “The French manager has the right to feel as badly as he does. We’re exactly the same,” the Scot said.
“We feel as badly as anybody. It’s not that he’s thinking any worse than us. We have given as big a condemnation.”
Zouma is said to be remorseful over the incident but that has not stifled strong backlash.
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