Following worldwide indignation over a video showing him attacking his pet at his house in Essex, a legal complaint has been lodged in Paris against the 27-year-old West Ham and France defender.
Lawyers for the 30 Million Friends Foundation (La Fondation 30 Millions d’Amis), France’s largest animal rights organization, contacted French prosecutors after seeing the clip.
‘We condemn this horrific crime, have requested that the player be suspended from the France squad, and have filed a legal complaint against him,’ said a representative for the group.
In 2021, France enacted tough new animal protection legislation, making “mistreatment of animals” punishable by up to four years in prison and a fine of up to £50,000.
A French citizen can be tried for illegal conduct committed outside of France, according to Article 113-6 of the French Penal Code.
Acts of violence perpetrated in front of other persons are aggravating circumstances in any criminal case.
“The video appears to demonstrate aggravating facts in the case of Kurt Zouma, therefore he could be in very big danger,” a person close to the matter stated.
Senior French lawmakers have also criticised Zouma, a native of Lyon in the east, and asked for his expulsion from the national team.
