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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Samuel Meade

Kurt Zouma taunted by inflatable cats and new chant as West Ham face Newcastle

Kurt Zouma has been taunted by the Newcastle United fans as the West Ham defender continues to face backlash over shocking footage of him kicking his cat.

The Hammers centre-half started in their lunchtime clash with the Magpies at the London Stadium.

The travelling fans wasted no time in targeting the Frenchman as they showcased inflatable cats.

Fans in the away end were also heard chanting: "Heyyyyyy, Hey Zouma, Oooh, Aahh, I wanna knowww, how you kicked that cat."

Footage of the incident was filmed by Zouma's brother, Yoan, who has since been suspended by Dagenham & Redbridge.

The cats have been seized by the RSPCA whilst the player was hit with the maximum £250k fine by his club.

West Ham did cop major criticism as they started Zouma just days after the incident in their win over Watford.

Should Kurt Zouma be starting for West Ham? Have your say in the comments!

David Moyes defended the decision before the former Chelsea man withdrew from the team to play Leicester City last weekend during the warm-up due to illness.

The Hammers boss has again had to address the situation, but is keen to draw a line under it.

He said: "I think he's probably really disappointed about what he's done and he's thinking about it a lot, no doubt, but overall we have tried to get him to move on.

"We want him to concentrate on his training. He played very well for us against Watford the other week there, so we're hoping that we can keep him at those levels of performance - we'll be pleased with that.

"He's really well-liked here amongst the supporters, the performances he's put in throughout the season already, so hopefully he can focus on his football and we'll give him as much support as we can until we get him right back to his best."

West Ham chief Karren Brady has also recently made her feelings clear on the incident.

She condemned the actions of Zouma, who was a summer signing, but was keen to underline the sorrow he felt.

Brady wrote in The Sun : "I feel it is important and appropriate at this stage to stress that Kurt Zouma, the person, is entirely aware of the severity of his actions.

"It has been said before but I can say it again now, because I have seen it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears - he is extremely remorseful.

"He has said sorry, and has also apologised sincerely to everyone at the Club and the wider public.

"That is an important first step on what will be a journey of re-education and atonement and it is a journey we will fully support him on."

West Ham remain firmly in the top four hunt alongside the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United.

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