Michail Antonio of West Ham responds to the backlash surrounding his teammate Kurt Zouma with his own question to a Sky Sports reporter.
Antonio has responded to being asked about the disgraceful behaviour Zouma, but didn’t get why people after calling for Zouma to lose his livelihood when people convicted of racism are allowed to continue playing.
Antonio insists he’s not condoning anything that Zouma is done, but made the important point that there have been some high-profile cases of footballers who got away with racist abuse and carried on playing for their clubs after only a short ban from the team…
Michail Antonio has given a powerful response when asked about the situation at West Ham with Kurt Zouma. pic.twitter.com/epXxAkkfLU
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 10, 2022
This got thousands of views within the first 15 minutes since it was uploaded and it really got people talking on social media.
Zouma continued to play for West Ham this week, surprisingly making David Moyes’ starting line up against Watford.
The Frenchman has since been fined two week’s wage (£250k), with the money set to go to animal charities, while his pets have been seized by the RSPCA.
It comes a day after Chris Kirkland has been forced to “apologise” after saying Kurt Zouma’s cat-kicking video was “worse than racism”.
Speaking to the BBC, Kirkland said: “Everywhere they go now and everywhere he [Zouma] goes, he’s going to be targeted and rightfully so as well because he deserves everything he’s going to get.
“I’m still in disbelief that West Ham played him last night, I thought that was disgraceful but again – The FA for me, if it was a racism case, the FA have acted, stepped in and banned players for six to 10 games, fighting six to 10 games.
“This is worse if anything, what is the difference?”
But Kirkland has now been forced to “apologise” – as he made clear that he only meant to say that animals and pets are defenceless at the hands of abusers.
Michail Antonio responds to Kurt Zouma backlash
Talking to his followers, Kirkland said: “Hi, just a quick video – I know a lot of people seem to be offended and listen I totally understand with what I said this morning about the Kurt Zouma situation.
“Obviously I mentioned racism and about if players have been banned before, I know I said that it’s possibly worse and that but what I meant was animals can’t defend themselves – they’ve not got a voice.
“Obviously humans have but listen, racism goes without saying it’s an absolute disgrace and anyone who does that should be locked up, people know how I feel about that I don’t have to say that.
“But yeah, it was just in the context that animals can’t defend themselves, they’ve not got a voice, I meant in that way not obviously the other way so hope that clears it up and yeah, take care everybody.”
Zouma was dropped by his sponsor Adidas after The Sun exposed how he kicked and slapped his cat in the shocking video.
An Adidas spokesperson said: “We have concluded our investigation and can confirm Kurt Zouma is no longer an Adidas contracted athlete.”
Zouma’s two cats have since been taken into care by the RSPCA.
Twitter users reacted as Michail Antonio responds to the Kurt Zouma backlash with his own question to Sky reporter…
@barsenal14: Spot on.
@xberole_: he’s like michael scott when he starts to string a sentence along and doesn’t know where it’s going
@J_lufc_3: Comparing the actual punishment for racism offence with what some people on the internet say should happen to Zouma isn’t exactly comparable is it? The FA who gave out that ban have done nothing with the Zouma thing have they?
@Honestbob14: @Michailantonio I thought you were better than this. You can’t use race as a get out of jail free card. The two issues are completely separate. You can’t compare harming animals to racism. His actions are indefensible. Just makes you look bad as well.
@dcfc24seven: If he’s referring to Suarez that was in 2013 we’re in a different world from then a more alert and woke. Animal cruelty and racism are just as bad as each other.
@ajujimk: @Michailantonio thank you very much for that question. @SkySportsNews why did your reporter refused to answer his question?
@adamfish_92: Great use of whataboutism here Michail
@PiyushPMUFC: Just because someone else got away with murder doesn’t mean he should get away too. Both should be punished. Although I do believe he shouldn’t have to change his career for it. Mistakes do happen. Punishment should be strict but career change isn’t the one I think.
@Rxchys: Why is everyone bringing racism into it, he volleyed his cat the horrible bloke but it’s fine because racism is worse
@FelixHazell: Man’s bringing racism into because it’s being treated worse than racism, yes what he did was wrong but he’s saying that the punishment should be the same of not less then what people get for racism
@Tycosyco1: Why can we not just say that volleying cats is wrong and punish him ffs?
@smugobikili: Because you already set a bar when you fine 50k for racism but want to end his career. Did Adidas cancel Suarez’s contract? What about Maguire that fought and tried bribing the police? He was wrong, should be punished but 250k? West ham should sack him? Adidas binning him?
@ianharman40: Physically hurting defenceless animals is worse than name calling
@SteveMc9: Whataboutism isn’t an answer.. if you can abuse a defenceless animal what else do you think is acceptable..?
@loriengordon: Theres a difference between whataboutery and criticism of consistency of punishment. It still is abuse and should be punished but to what level is the issue here.
@MlCHAELconnolly: Make the punishment for racism more severe, not the punishment for abusing animals less severe. Simple
@SLGrimess: It’s an interesting question for sure. People are always angrier about animals being hurt over humans. I’ve seen it so many times in vids with an accident, and people say “I hope the animal is okay”, ignoring whatever human was involved
@RunkeGlenn: I dont get it, is he trying to say that people are acting like what Zouma did is Worse than racism? Because he said himself that people found guilty of racism have gotten a 8 match suspension ‘’or something like that’’, while Zouma didnt Get any suspension and was only fined
@CSakwah: Man, Michail Antonio has done what most black players are afraid to do; ask the right question. Black football players need to fight back and end this racially inspired cancel culture targeting black football players. Stand up against the unfair punishment targeting Zouma.
@BingSantuary: He’s just trying to associate the situation to racism, and sidetrack people about the quintessential of the animal abuse issue… Racism issue needs to be tackled, so as animal abuse
@W_Bellew: It has been addressed though, I think that’s the point. Zouma has been punished. He is just saying people wanting him fired and dismissed by the club is excessive when you consider that this hasnt happened for players when there is racism. I think he has a good point
— EthanCash (@Cashmundo01) February 10, 2022
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