West Ham defender Kurt Zouma, his brother appear in court over cat-kicking video

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 1: West Ham United defender Kurt Zouma and his brother Yoan appeared in court on Wednesday, June 1 after being prosecuted by the RSPCA under the Animal Welfare Act for the incident in February. In a video that caused a public outcry, 27-year-old French defender and his footballer brother Yoan Zouma appeared to strike the cat, with his pets subsequently taken into care. On February 9, an animal welfare organization in England and Wales removed West Ham United defender Kurt Zouma's two cats Wednesday after social media videos showed the pets being kicked and slapped. Meanwhile, West Ham United said the English Premier League club fined the 27-year-old French defender and it is supporting the RSPCA investigation. The club added that Zouma is "extremely remorseful" for mistreating his pets. A former Chelsea defender, Zouma joined West Ham in 2021 and has a contract with the Hammers until 2025. He is a two-time English champion with Chelsea in 2015 and 2017. Zouma helped Chelsea win the UEFA Champions League title and a UEFA Super Cup in 2021. (Footage by Bilal Acar /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)