Panel to decide Blades' fate
Tevez could leave the Hammers this summer
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Sunday, 17, Jun 2007 03:03
The bitter row between West Ham and Sheffield United over Carlos Tevez will reach a dramatic climax on Tuesday.
A two-day hearing starts tomorrow over the decision to fine the Hammers £5.5 million for breaking Premier League rules in the signing of Tevez instead of docking them points.
The Blades are hoping an independent arbitration panel will overturn their relegation to the Championship.
Sheffield United have also been in Brussels this week to make their case to the European Commission.
The club may demand compensation from the Commission if their relegation is not overturned in the hearing.
Andy Pack, a club spokesman, said: "We expressed our concerns of the whole affair.
"It wasn't a question of trying to enlist support or lobby, rather a chance to inform them of where we are."
If the Blades win their case the Premier League could relegate West Ham, keep both clubs in the top flight, offer a compensation package or refuse to overturn their decision.
Blades chairman Kevin McCabe said he was confident the panel will rule in favour of his club.
"I think the Premier League accept they wish the arbitration was not happening," McCabe said last week.
"But in the knowledge it is happening and it cannot be prevented, then if the decision is overturned we should be reselected to the Premier League.
"Since we really looked into the whys and the wherefores of the Tevez affair it became apparent that a wrong decision was made."
West Ham were found guilty in March of acting improperly and withholding vital documents over the ownership of Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
Mascherano was sold to Liverpool while Tevez was allowed to continue playing and scored seven goals in the Hammers' last ten matches to keep them in the Premiership.