Kurt Zouma: West Ham's Michail Antonio questions level of backlash to cat-kicking video – ‘Is it worse than racism?’

Michail Antonio has questioned whether there has been an overreaction to West Ham team-mate Kurt Zouma’s cat-kicking video, asking «is it worse than players convicted of racism?». West Ham boss David Moyes was heavily criticised for starting Zouma against Watford on Tuesday in light of a shocking video which showed the defender kicking his pet cat.

Ad/> Zouma’s cats have since been taken away by the RSPCA, while West Ham have fined the player two weeks’ wages which will be donated to animal welfare charities. Premier LeagueZouma has cats taken away by RSPCA, loses Adidas deal, and fined 'maximum amount possible'A DAY AGO Adidas have also dropped their sponsorship of Zouma, while there have been calls for Zouma to be suspended from possible selection for the French national team.

On his way to West Ham training, Antonio said of the situation: «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. Zouma has cats taken away by RSPCA, loses Adidas deal, and fined 'maximum amount possible' Football 1-0 Morals: Moyes nets winner with wretched Zouma excuse – The Warm-Up 'Deeply sorry' Zouma condemned by West Ham for kicking pet cat »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 and 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 convicted of racism done?» Back in 2011, then-Liverpool forward Luis Suarez was given an eight-match ban and fined by the FA after