Source: Telegraph
West Ham and Sheffield United reach outofcourt settlement over Carlos Tevez affair
In a joint statement, the agreement was described as a "satisfactory settlement for compensation" and the figure, which was not disclosed, is understood to be more than £10 million. [LNB]It means the independent tribunal chaired by Lord Griffiths to rule on the controversy will not reconvene. [LNB] Related ArticlesZola's European dream[LNB]Behrami sidelined for six months[LNB]West Ham face further punishment over Carlos Tevez affair[LNB]West Ham confident they can fight off Neil Warnock legal action over Carlos Tevez affair[LNB]West Ham to appeal Carlos Tevez ruling[LNB]Sheffield United demand £45m over Carlos Tevez affair[LNB]The statement from United chairman Kevin McCabe and West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury said: "Both clubs are pleased to announce that a satisfactory settlement for compensation has been reached which brings the dispute between Sheffield United and West Ham to an end. [LNB]"The tribunal will not be resuming." [LNB]United had originally claimed £45m as compensation for their relegation in the 2006-07 season. [LNB]The compensation claim began after United successfully argued that Tevez's participation in crucial matches in the 2006-07 season, while in breach of Premier League third-party rules, played a material role in their eventual relegation. [LNB]West Ham rejected the claim but an independent FA arbitration panel chaired by Lord Griffiths found in Sheffield United's favour, ruling that Tevez, who scored the winner in the decisive game of the 2006-07 season, had had a decisive effect on the Blade's fate. [LNB]With West Ham's parent company facing acute financial difficulty in Iceland they would only have been able to meet any immediate demand for payment by selling players. By paying in instalments they have removed that threat, though Sheffield United are understood to have extracted a higher price in exchange for the five-year payment schedule. [LNB]As reported by Telegraph Sport on Friday, the settlement brings to an end a corrosive saga that began in April 2007, when West Ham were fined £5m by an independent Premier League inquiry for breaching rules governing third-party ownership. [LNB]No points were deducted and controversially Tevez was permitted to play in the final three games of the season after West Ham claimed they had unilaterally terminated their third-party agreement with the players' advisors, a consortium headed by Kia Joorabchian. [LNB]Sheffield United lost a High Court challenge to the Premier League panel's decision and then persuaded the FA that it should convene an arbitration panel to rule on the decision. [LNB]Lord Griffiths's ruling was hugely controversial but ultimately decisive, and the agreed settlement finally brings the case to a close. [LNB]
