WEST HAM forward Michail Antonio has questioned whether Kurt Zouma’s mistreatment of his cat is “worse than racism.”

The France international defender, who was selected against Watford in the Premier League on Tuesday night, has been widely condemned after a video emerged of him dropping, kicking and slapping the pet.

Zouma, who is under investigation by the RSPCA after his two cats were taken into the care of the charity, has been fined “the maximum amount possible” by West Ham.

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?’

Zouma and West Ham are co-operating fully with the RSCPA-led investigation.