EX-ENGLAND ace Chris Kirkland has been forced to "apologise" after saying Kurt Zouma's cat-kicking video was "worse than racism."

The former Premier League goalkeeper made the remarks as he berated West Ham's decision to play Zouma after he drop-kicked his pet in an awful video filmed at his mansion.

But the ex-goalie came under scrutiny when he suggested that Zouma's actions were "worse than racism" and that the FA should step in.

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.

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.

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"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."

It comes after Zouma was DROPPED by his sponsor Adidas after The Sun exposed how he kicked and slapped his cat in a shocking video.

An Adidas spokesperson said: "We have concluded our investigation and can confirm Kurt Zouma is no longer an Adidas contracted athlete."

Earlier today, Zouma's two cats were SEIZED by the RSPC after chilling footage showed him kicking one of them like a football and slapping it out of a child's hands.

'DISBELIEF'

The West Ham ace has also been fined £250,000 – two weeks' wages – and dropped from the squad over the vile video which was filmed at his Essex mansion.

The defender, 27, will now not feature in this Sunday's Premier League clash against Leicester City.

And he has lost his boot deal with Adidas – after Vitality dropped their sponsorship of West Ham.

Zouma issued a grovelling apology after the film, shared by his brother Yoan on Snapchat, was exclusively featured by The Sun.

Essex Police last night said it was making "urgent enquiries" into the video – but The Sun understands the force will now be dropping the investigation.

More than 120,000 people have signed a petition calling for Zouma to be prosecuted over the footage and banned from keeping animals.

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