Antonio questions calls for Zouma sacking

West Ham United's Michail Antonio has questioned the logic of people demanding defender Kurt Zouma be "sacked" after a video emerged of the Frenchman abusing his cats, with the striker asking if what his teammate did was worse than those guilty of racism.

Animal charity the RSPCA have taken Zouma's cats into their care while West Ham's sponsor Vitality has suspended its partnership with the club over its handling of the matter while Adidas has dropped its sponsorship of the player.

Jamaican striker Antonio said he did not condone Zouma's actions, but on Thursday he asked why those guilty of racism have got a second chance to continue their careers after serving a ban while the Frenchman should lose his job.

"I've got a question for you. Do you think what he's done is worse than racism? I'm not condoning a thing that he's done, I don't agree with what he has done at all," Antonio told a Sky Sports reporter.

"But there's people that have been convicted, 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 and to lose their livelihood.

"I've just got to ask this question to everyone out there: is what he has done worse than what the people convicted of racism (have) done?"

Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches and fined Stg 40,000 ($A75,000) for racially abusing former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra in 2011.

West Ham said Zouma was fined the "maximum amount possible", with British media reporting the fine was two weeks' wages.

The 27-year-old, who apologised, has accepted the fine which will be donated to animal welfare charities.

Calls for Zouma to be sacked grew after