West Ham boss David Moyes says Kurt Zouma is “getting help” and remains available for selection for this weekend’s Premier League meeting with Leicester.
Moyes surprised many when he picked Zouma to start Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over Watford, just 24 hours after a video emerged of the centre-back kicking and slapping his pet cat.
The clip caused widespread outrage, as did the Hammers’ decision not to drop the defender, though he was subsequently fined two weeks’ wages, equivalent to around £250,000.
Zouma has been dropped by kit sponsors adidas and remains under investigation by the RSPCA, who will also offer him educational help around animal welfare, while the club have lost two sponsors over the incident.
“Yes he is available to play against Leicester,” Moyes said when asked if the Frenchman would play at the King Power. “There are different views on should he be, we as a club took the decision that we would make him available and I stand by that.
“He's really, really disappointed. Incredibly remorseful. Like everybody else, sometimes in life you need forgiveness and he hopes he's forgiven for a bad action.
“People who maybe have taken driving offences, most have to go to classes to learn the reasons and the damage. The RSPCA are going to provide us with some courses for Kurt about animals and how to treat them.
“We'll do everything we can to ensure Kurt is looking at it, understanding it and getting better.”
It is unclear how long the RSPCA investigation will take, but the charity - who will benefit from the fine handed down by West Ham - have taken his two cats into care and they continue to be monitored by a vet.
“We all make mistakes, whoever we are,” said Moyes. “Kurt has apologised, the club have done everything they can possibly. Out of a really bad situation we're trying to get something positive.
“We hope the animal charities will benefit greatly from it. It's a terrible situation. We admit that. Nobody is hiding that.”
Moyes himself has taken heavy criticism for his decision to start Zouma in the victory over Watford this week, with the 27-year-old allowed to play before the club had taken any formal action against him.
“I understand the criticism because I understand how severe the video was and what he did was terrible,” Moyes said of the criticism. “But I know where my own moral compass is. I totally understand why people would be disappointed.”
West Ham striker, Michail Antonio has condemned the actions of his teammate but questioned the level of the outcry this week, and Moyes feels the incident could pull his squad closer together rather than drive them apart.
“It's the sort of thing that pulls you together,” said the Scot. “Along the road there are plenty of bumps. We've hit a big bump and we need to try to get over it. “
