Sheffield Utd appeal dismissed
The transfers of Tevez (left) and Mascherano were under scrutiny
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Tuesday, 03, Jul 2007 11:43
Sheffield United's appeal against the punishment handed to West Ham United over the Carlos Tevez affair has been dismissed by the Premier League.
An arbitration panel convened two weeks ago to run the rule over the original decision of the disciplinary committee, which fined the Hammers a record £5.5 million but did not dock the club points.
The Upton Park club were found to have committed indiscretions in contravention of Premier League rules when they signed Argentinean duo Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano from Brazilian side Corinthians last summer.
And Sheffield United, who under former manager Neil Warnock were relegated on the last day of the season, argued that the fine was not sufficient punishment and that league points should have been deducted from the Hammers' final total.
This afternoon the panel handed down their decision, which dismissed Sheffield United's case meaning the club's place in the Championship next season is confirmed. Similarly, West Ham will start the new season in August as a Premiership club.
The Premier League hopes the decision of the appeals panel will now draw a line under the entire affair after a disruptive few months.
Several options were mooted by observers and commentators if the decision had gone in favour of the Blades, including relegating West Ham and reinstating United or even beginning the 2007/08 season with a 21-team top-flight.
Following the announcement, West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson said: "We are happy that this matter is finally closed and all parties can now move on. The arbitration panel's decision is very clear and reflects what we have believed all along.
"West Ham United have been preparing for next season in the Premier League since the final whistle at Old Trafford in May and we will continue to do so.
"I would like to reiterate that Carlos Tevez is a registered West Ham United player with a playing contract that still has three years remaining on it, and that situation remains unchanged."
In response to the decision, Sheffield United issued the following statement: "Sheffield United confirms that it has received the arbitration award in relation to the proceedings regarding the disciplinary decision, date April 27th 2007, in the Tevez affair.
"We are pleased that the tribunal rejected the Premier League's contention that we were not entitled to challenge that disciplinary decision.
"We note that the tribunal in response to that challenge, decided not to overturn the disciplinary commission's decision, despite concluding that they would in all probability have deducted points from West Ham had they been hearing the case themselves.
"We are obviously very disappointed by this conclusion, in particular in circumstances where the tribunal recognised that the outcome of the decision turned out to be "unfortunate in the extreme," and that Sheffield United have done nothing wrong to merit this outcome.
"We are currently considering these findings with our professional advisers. It would be inappropriate for us to comment further until we have had the opportunity - properly - to consider the reasons the tribunal has given for its decision.
"We are indebted to the support we have received from supporters and professional individuals in relation to our Campaign for Fairness, particularly those with no prior Sheffield United allegiance, and for the support given to us (whether or otherwise) by fellow clubs."
Among the clubs to assist the Blades' ultimately futile appeal were fellow relegation candidates Fulham - who managed to avoid the drop - as well as Mascherano's new employers Liverpool.