West Ham's Moral Dilemma: Pursue Ilombe Mboyo or Not?

Football, like it or not, forgives.

It is a powerful tool, enabling those from disadvantaged backgrounds to find their calling, while also giving the opportunity for criminals to turn their lives around.

It has its own moral compass, whereby some are happy for convicted players to play for their club as long as they are successful, whereas others deplore the idea.

Divisions on the issue are apparent at West Ham. Amid the speculation, they are considering a move for Ilombe Mboyo, as reported by the Daily Mail.

The Belgian forward has spent time in prison for his involvement in the gang rape of an underage girl. He served three years of an eight-year sentence when he was a member of a gang—at age 17—in 2004.

Mboyo is 26 now and last season scored 20 league goals for Gent, who finished 12th. While his ability in front of goal does not concern interested parties, it is his background that continues to polarise opinion. He was selected for Belgium in October last year, but his inclusion divided the country.

Some claimed he should not have had the chance to represent his country, but others countered by stating his rehabilitation, thanks in part to being enrolled in "Football in Prison," was a victory for the justice system. Once an offender but now fully on the road to rehabilitation.

Such is the nature of debate and football these days, it was not long before Twitter became the forum to discuss the merits of signing Mboyo.

Jack Sullivan, the son of West Ham co-owner David Sullivan, asked his 29,000 followers whether they would be happy with the arrival of the striker.

The younger Sullivan claimed that 99 percent of respondents said "no" to the move. However, some responses claimed the player was "silly" for his part in the gang-rape of a young girl, while others insisted he had served his time.

Lee Hughes served three years of a six-year sentence for causing death by dangerous driving and, upon his release, signed for Oldham in 2007.

He was accused of driving like a "madman" after killing Douglas Graham, but Oldham believed everyone deserves a second chance.

"However, Lee Hughes is now nearing the end of his sentence and he has paid the price for what occurred,” director Barry Owen said at the time, reported by the BBC. "We would ask supporters and the general public not to pass moral judgement.”

While some fans abhor the thought of someone convicted for their part in a gang-rape—Mboyo’s involvement has been reported as "passive"—others believe that killers deserve a chance.

It depends what side of the fence you fall on as to whether you truly believe football should forgive or forget.

Oldham’s Owen, speaking in 2007, urged others not to pass moral judgement, but that is exactly what West Ham must do if they pursue the signing of Mboyo.