Kurt Zouma charged with three animal welfare offences

The Frenchman has been charged with three offences

West Ham United defender Kurt Zouma has been charged with three offences under the Animal Welfare Act after allegedly harming his cat. In February, a video of Zouma, 27, kicking and slapping his pet cat emerged online. It was filmed by his brother, Yoan, who has also been charged. Kurt is accused of two counts of causing "unnecessary suffering" to the cat by kicking it in the abdomen and slapping it in the head. He is also charged with failing to protect the cat from "pain suffering, injury or disease". Yoan, 23, who plays for Dagenham and Redbridge, has been charged with two alleged offences following an RSPCA investigation. He is accused of two counts of "aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring" Kurt to commit the offence of causing unnecessary suffering to the cat. The pair are set to appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on Tuesday for a first hearing. Kurt was fined two weeks' wages by the Hammers and dropped by several sponsors, but continued to play for the London club. He also had his two pet cats taken away and into care by the RSPCA, who continue to care for the two animals. Related links:

• Kurt Zouma’s brother charged by RSPCA following cat abuse video
• Gary Neville disagrees with calls for West Ham to sack Kurt Zouma
• Graeme Souness tears into Kurt Zouma after defender pulled out of West Ham squad