Joorabchian: 'Nothing shady' about Tevez deal
Thursday, 17 May 2007 08:28
Tevez is not expected to be at West Ham next season
The transfer that brought Carlos Tevez to
West Ham United was not shady, controversial or strange, according to the Iranian-born businessman who brokered the deal.
Kia Joorabchian, whose company owns Tevez, claims that the arrangement was similar to other loan moves involving Premiership clubs.
His comments follow confirmation yesterday that
Sheffield United will launch a legal challenge over the Premier League's decision not to dock West Ham points over irregularities in the paperwork associated with the Tevez deal.
The Hammers were instead hit with a record £5.5 million fine.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Joorabchian said he had brokered similar agreements before without any problems.
"It was a situation similar to Alex Song going to Charlton, or Tim Howard to
Everton, or Glen Johnson to
Portsmouth," he said.
"It wasn't a shady transfer. It wasn't a controversial transfer. It wasn't a strange transfer."
Joorabchian confirmed that Tevez was currently on loan at West Ham and that the east London club would not receive any of the proceeds should he be sold in the summer.
"To use an analogy, take Ben Foster. If he transferred to another club, do
Watford get the transfer fee?" he explained.
Tevez, who scored seven goals in the Hammers' last ten games, has been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Inter Milan.
Whether such a move would be permanent or another loan deal remains to be seen.
As well as the legal challenge from Sheffield United, Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has this morning called for Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore and chairman Dave Richards to resign over their handling of the matter.