Antonio: Is what Zuma did to the cat worse than racism?

LONDON: West Ham United’s Michael Antonio has criticized those calling for the sacking of teammate Kurt Zouma after appearing in a video in who abused a cat, asking if the French had done worse than those convicted of racist incidents. Adidas has ended its partnership with Zuma, sponsors are reconsidering their contracts with West Ham United, the English Premier League football team, and the French defender’s two cats have moved to the Animal Welfare Society (RSBCA) as they continue their repercussions of the offensive video. The video, shot by Zuma’s brother Ewan, was quickly released on social, showed the West Ham defender dropping the cat and kicking it to the ground. He was also seen slapping the animal and throwing it with a shoe before chasing it in home. Jamaican striker Antonio said he did not forgive Zuma’s actions, but wondered why those convicted of racist incidents were given a second chance to continue their careers after serving a ban while Zuma was losing his future. “I have a question for you,” Antonio told Sky Sport. Do you think what he did is worse than racism? I don’t forgive anything he did, I don’t agree at all with what he did. “But there are people who have been convicted and arrested for racism and then played football. They received an eight-game ban . but now people are asking for Zuma to be fired, so he loses his he only source of income. “I’m just asking this question to everyone: Was what he did worse than those convicted of racist incidents?” Former Liverpool forward Luis Suarez was banned for eight games and fined £ 40,000 ($ 54,000) for racially abusing former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra in 2011. West Ham said the former defender Chelsea Zuma had been fined “as much as possible”, i reported media. British that the fine was two weeks’ salary. The 27-year-old defender has accepted the fine, which will be donated to animal welfare associations. “West Ham United can confirm that the club supports the RSBCA investigation into Kurt Zouma’s actions in the circulating video online this week, “said the club Londoner. “Kurt is deeply repentant and like everyone else at the clubfully understands the depth of feelings surrounding the incident and the need for action. ”Despite the widespread outrage caused by the video, Zouma was a key player in West Ham’s 1-0 win over Watford on Tuesday. coach David Moyes justified Zuma’s involvement after the game. While Moyes claimed to be “an animal lover” and expressed his disappointment with his player’s actions, the West Ham manager said: “My work was to try to lead West Ham to victory and engage the best team to achieve this. “But Vitality Insurance and Investment, one of West Ham’s sponsors, said it will suspend sponsorship of the club “with immediate effect”. “We are very disappointed with the sentence handed down by the club in response to this incident, “he added.” We therefore suspend our sponsorship of West Ham United with immediate effect. We will now cooperate more closely with the club to understand the steps he will take to remedy the situation. ”Sportswear giant Adidas has excluded Zuma, who he and his brother have apologized for their actions, from the list of players he sponsors. investigation and we can confirm that Kurt Zouma is no longer an adidas contract athlete, “the company said in a note. Experience Kissimmee, also a sponsor of West Ham, said it was reconsidering its partnership with the club. The tour operator based in Florida added that he was “disappointed” by Zuma’s participation in the game. Zuma was booed by fans at the London stadium on Tuesday, with former England captain and current BBC presenter Gary Lineker saying it was “numb” to involve the French defender. Noel Le Graet, president of the French Football Association, condemned what he called an “unjustified, stupid and painful act of violence” and said he hoped Zuma could learn a lesson from the situation. (Reuters)