'Is it worse than racism?' - Michail Antonio defends Kurt Zouma over cat kicking video

Zouma

West Ham forward Michail Antonio has questioned whether Kurt Zouma’s mistreatment of his cat is 'worse than racism'.

The France international has been widely condemned after a video emerged of him dropping, kicking and slapping the pet.

Zouma - whose cats were taken into care by the RSPCA - is under investigation by the animal charity, who are working alongside Essex Police.

More than 280,000 people sign an online petition on Change.org - started by Anti Animal Abuse - calling for Zouma to be prosecuted for his actions.

When asked about the incident during an interview with Sky Sports News, Hammers frontman Antonio said while he did not condone Zouma's actions, he felt there was a wider debate to be considered.

"I've got a question for you. Do you think what he's done is worse than racism?" Antonio said.

"I'm not condoning a thing that he's done, I don't agree with what he has done at all.

"But there's people that have been convicted and been caught for racism and have played football afterwards.

"They got an eight-game punishment or something like that, but people are now calling for people to be sacked, for them to lose their livelihood.

"I've just got to ask this question to everyone out there: 'is what he's [Zouma] done worse than what the people have done that [were] convicted of racism?'"

Yoan Zouma dropped by Dagenham & Redbridge

Yoan Zouma will not play for Dagenham & Redbridge until there has been a conclusion to the investigation.

The 23-year-old was reportedly filming Kurt Zouma kicking and slapping one of his cats.

Yoan Zouma - who said he regrets his involvement - has been contacted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals this week and he is 'fully cooperating with them, according to Dagenham.

Kurt Zouma's brother, Yoan, has been suspended by Dagenham and Redbridge for his role in the video that showed abuse of a cat. pic.twitter.com/WIYR0UAnz7
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 10, 2022

"Dagenham & Redbridge FC would again like to reiterate that it condemns any form of cruelty towards animals and fully understands the reaction of many of its supporters," a club statement said.

"The club has therefore decided that until the RSPCA has completed its investigations, Yoan will not play for Dagenham & Redbridge in any competitive match.

"Any further action deemed necessary to be taken will be made after the RSPCA investigation."

Dropped by Adidas and given maximum fine

Kurt Zouma was named in the starting XI for West Ham on Tuesday - one day after the video was seen on social media.

The France international was given the maximum fine possible by his club and the money will be donated to animal welfare charities.

Alongside the fine, Zouma has also been dropped by sponsor Adidas while Vitality have suspended their partnership with West Ham.

Adidas said in a statement: "We have concluded our investigation and can confirm Kurt Zouma is no longer an Adidas contracted athlete."

Adidas has ended its sponsorship deal with Kurt Zouma following the video footage of him kicking and slapping one of his cats.

He was fined $338,763 by West Ham this morning and his two cats have been taken into care by the RSPCA, a UK animal welfare charity. pic.twitter.com/OW0HoPl5Sh
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 9, 2022

A Vitality statement said: "We were very distressed by the video we have seen of Kurt Zouma. At Vitality, we condemn animal cruelty and violence of any kind.

"We are hugely disappointed by the judgement subsequently shown by the club in response to this incident. We are suspending our sponsorship of West Ham with immediate effect."