Kurt Zouma started a Premier League game for West Ham on Tuesday, hours after apologizing for kicking and slapping a cat in abuse caught on video.
Zouma is seen hitting the cat while laughter can be heard in the background. In video released by The Sun newspaper, the 27-year-old France international then chases the animal before throwing a pair of shoes at it and slapping its head.
West Ham condemned the defender’s actions and said it will deal with the player internally — though manager David Moyes still opted to select Zouma in the team for home match against Watford on Tuesday night.
He received jeers from some people in the crowd on his early touches of the ball at the Olympic Stadium.
Asked whether the video involving Zouma had influenced the team selection, Moyes said: “No, because he is one of our better players.