Kirkland was talking about a video of Kurt Zouma kicking and slapping his pet cat
Chris Kirkland has attempted to clear up comments he made on
BBC Breakfast in which he claimed a video of Kurt Zouma kicking his pet cat was 'worse, if anything', than racism or biting an opponent.
The West Ham United defender made headlines after a video circulated of him kicking and slapping his pet cat.
Zouma has apologised for the video and West Ham have also released a statement condemning his actions.
The Hammers surprisingly included the 27-year-old in their starting XI for their game against Watford on Tuesday night - the same day
Surrey Police confirmed they would launch an investigation into the video.
Fans were left baffled by the decision to include Zouma in the side for the game at the London Stadium, with
David Moyes trying to justify the decision by saying he selected him for 'footballing reasons.'
During his interview on the
BBC's morning programme, Kirkland said: "Everywhere he goes, he's going to be targeted, and rightly so as well because he deserves everything he is going to get.
"I'm a big advocate for mental health, and I need to be careful with what I say because it's bound to test Kurt Zouma. But, he brought it all on himself by... A sickening video.
"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 stepped in and banned players 6-10 games, biting, 6-10 games.
"This is worse, if anything. What is the difference?
"This is against a defenceless animal. So why the FA have not stepped in to ban him for this as well is beyond disbelief."
https://twitter.com/FootballJOE/status/1491364319698771968
Kirkland's comments caused a stir on social media and the former Wigan Athletic and England goalkeeper responded on Twitter with a video to clarify his comments.
https://twitter.com/ChrisKirkland43/status/1491350239504379905
"Obviously I mentioned racism and about if players have been banned before," he said.
"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."
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