Source: Daily_Mail
West Ham in crisis: FA and Premier League launch fresh probe into Tevez saga
The Premier League and the Football Association are to launch a fresh inquiry into West Ham[LNB]'s conduct over the Carlos Tevez affair.[LNB]The new investigation, into West Ham's behaviour when dealings with the striker's representatives after the club had initially been fined £5.5million for breaching league rules over third-party agreements, will be conducted jointly by the FA and the Premier League.[LNB]And if found guilty the cash-strapped club, who are already facing a £50m compensation claim from Sheffield United, would face a crippling fine and a points deduction - pushing them into the relegation zone. [LNB] Pivotal: Carlos Tevez was cleared to play in the crucial relegation clash against Wigan, a game the Hammers won 3-0[LNB] Carlos Tevez timeline[LNB]Sheffield United chairman points finger at Tevez after losses[LNB]EXCLUSIVE: Tevez dispute may be ended by Sheffield United offer of £25m out of court settlement[LNB]WEST HAM UNITED FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB] It follows the findings of an arbitration tribunal in favour of Sheffield United and against West Ham last year which decided Tevez should not have been able to play for the Hammers at the end of the 2006-07 season. [LNB]A joint statement said: 'The Premier League and the FA are to institute a joint inquiry into the views expressed by the Independent Arbitral Tribunal chaired by Lord Griffiths in September 2008, which dealt with a compensation claim by Sheffield United against West Ham United brought under FA Rules. [LNB] [LNB]'The joint inquiry will examine whether the conduct of West Ham United immediately after the Independent Disciplinary Commission's decision of 27 April 2007 amounted to further breaches of Premier League or FA Rules.'[LNB]The inquiry means West Ham or individuals could face further disciplinary action but say they have nothing to hide from the new investigation.[LNB]A club statement on www.whufc.com said: 'West Ham United will co-operate fully with the joint inquiry convened by the FA and Premier League. [LNB]'We have acted in good faith throughout the various inquiries and investigations into this matter and fulfilled the undertakings given to the Premier League following the initial penalty.[LNB] Final act: Carlos Tevez scores the winner against Manchester United on the last day of the season to ensure West Ham stayed up[LNB] [LNB]'We have nothing to hide and will ensure that this is once again reflected in our evidence to the FA and Premier League.'[LNB]The arbitration tribunal heard evidence from lawyer Graham Shear, solicitor for Tevez's agent Kia Joorabchian, that West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury provided verbal assurances that the third party agreement still existed despite having informed the Premier League that the agreement had been terminated.[LNB] [LNB]The Tribunal ruled: 'If the Premier League had known what Mr Duxbury for West Ham was saying to Mr Joorabchian's solicitor following the commission decision, we are confident that the Premier League would have suspended Mr Tevez's registration as a West Ham player. [LNB]'We have no doubt that those [Tevez's] services were worth at least three points to West Ham over the season and were what made the difference between West Ham remaining in the Premiership and being relegated at the end of the season.' [LNB]After being told the agreement had been terminated, the Premier League had then allowed Tevez to play for the Hammers in the crucial relegation battle that led to Sheffield United's eventual drop out of the top flight. [LNB] Icy future: West Ham United chairman and owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson is coming under increasing pressure to sell the club.[LNB] The Blades are claiming up to £50million in compensation from West Ham as a result.[LNB]Today's announcement is just the latest twist in a long-running saga for the east London club, who have lurched from one controversy to another in recent months.[LNB]In August 2008, Alan Curbishley resigned as manager in protest at the departure of key defenders Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney on the final day of the transfer window - just hours after he had been promised by Chief Executive Scott Duxbury that no more players would be leaving the club.[LNB]Curbishley was replaced weeks later with former Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola – a playing legend in the Premier League but untried and untested in club football, having spent just a few years coaching the Italian under-21 side.[LNB]However, Zola's first day in the job was overshadowed by the news that the club's major sponsor had gone bust. More than 85,000 travellers were reported to be stuck at their holiday destinations after XL Leisure Group went into administration.[LNB]Just a few days later, the Hammers were hit by a monumental blow when they faced having to pay crippling damages to Sheffield United after the independent tribunal ruled against them over the Tevez affair.[LNB]Since then, the club have been thrown into further crisis after owner and chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson lost £360million following the Icelandic banking collapse.[LNB]In November, the heavy pressure on Gudmundsson to sell the club was increased by the collapse of his main business in Iceland.[LNB]Samson Holdings filed for bankruptcy in a country in economic meltdown following the global financial crisis, leaving it highly unlikely that the financially-stricken Gudmundsson can afford to hang on much longer to the club for much longer.[LNB]Gudmundsson, who bought West Ham for £85million and has invested a further £30m, saw his considerable fortune evaporate by an estimated £230m in the credit crunch. The West Ham owner was also the biggest loser following the closure of Iceland bank Landsbanki, in which he was the major shareholder with a 45 per cent stake.[LNB]The club's future was then thrown into further doubt after it emerged that their holding company Hansa was heading for administration. However, vice-chairman Asgeir Fridgeirsson insisted West Ham were 'firewalled' and would avoid sporting sanctions because they are registered with the Premier League under a different name.[LNB]Fridgeirsson admitted that West Ham was one of Gudmundsson's main remaining assets after he lost an estimated £230million of his personal fortune through the collapse of Landsbanki.[LNB] [LNB][LNB] Carlos Tevez timeline[LNB]Sheffield United chairman points finger at Tevez after losses[LNB]EXCLUSIVE: Tevez dispute may be ended by Sheffield United offer of £25m out of court settlement[LNB]WEST HAM UNITED FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB] [LNB] [LNB]
