Arbitration Panel To Review West Ham Row

An arbitration panel will this week rule on whether the FA Premier League should
have docked points from West Ham following the club’s indiscretions in the
transfers of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

The outcome of the ruling is of particular interest to Sheffield United who
were relegated from the top-flight and have been lobbying hard to see West Ham
lose points over the affair – a scenario that would send the Hammers down
instead of Sheffield United.

The FA Premier League fined West Ham £5.5m for breaching ownership rules. 

‘We expressed our concerns of the whole affair,’ said Sheffield United
spokesman Andy Pack.

‘It wasn’t a question of trying to enlist support or lobby, rather a chance
to inform them of where we are.’

Sheffield United may turn to the European Commission for compensation if the
arbitration panel fails to overturn their relegation.

If the panel finds in favour of United, the FA Premier League could relegate
West Ham, keep both clubs in the top flight, offer a compensation package or
refuse to overturn the decision.

The panel will meet over the next two days to decided the two clubs’ fate.