Blades to sue Hammers
17 Aug 2007 - 07:46:13
Sheffield United have decided to take legal action to sue West Ham United over the Carlos Tevez-Javier Mascherano affair which marred last season.
The Blades are suing for compensation for the cost of relegation from the Premier League, with West Ham having escaped with a £5.5million fine over the registration of the Argentina duo, who were allegedly owned by Kia Joorabchian at the time of their arrivals.
A statement from the Blades read: "Sheffield United announce that we are to issue proceedings against West Ham United in connection with the Tevez Affair.
"Sheffield United will claim substantial damages for breaches of contract by West Ham.
"The move comes as the transfer of Carlos Tevez from West Ham to Manchester United is completed and the player makes his debut for his new club.
"Sheffield United's basis for the claim is that West Ham acted dishonestly in obtaining the registration of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, in that they failed to reveal that those players were owned by a third party.
"The Premier League would not have registered those players with West Ham had they known the true position.
"The players, particularly Tevez, played a key role in West Ham's season, giving West Ham an unfair advantage at the expense of the other Premiership teams - including Sheffield United - all of whom had played by the rules."