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

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

Jamaican striker Antonio said he did not condone Zouma's actions, but he asked why those guilty of racism have got a second chance to continue their careers after serving a ban while Zouma 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 £40,000 (R819,000) 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. – Reuters