West Ham United Football Club News

• Nickname:Hammers
• Founded:1895
• Manager:Sam Allardyce

• Ground:Upton Park
• Capacity:35,595

Hammers handed huge fine

27 Apr 2007 - 18:05:19

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West Ham United have been fined a massive £5.5million by the FA Premier League over irregularities surrounding the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

The Hammers avoided a points deduction that would have all but sealed their relegation from the Premiership by pleading guilty to the charges, but face a massive financial hit instead.

The Premier League inquiry was sparked by West Ham signing the Argentinian duo from Brazilian club Corinthians earlier this season, with the pair part-owned by the Media Sports Investment group.

When the charges were laid in early February, a Premier League explanation read: "It is the board's complaint that there were agreements in relation to both these transfers that enabled third parties to acquire the ability materially to influence the club's policies and/or the performance of its teams.

"Furthermore at the time of the transfer agreements and until 24 January 2007, West Ham failed to disclose the third-party agreements to the Premier League and/or deliberately withheld these agreements from the Premier League."

A statement from the Hammers following the verdict added: "West Ham United was given an opportunity to present its case and received a fair hearing.

"The club's submission that the contracts gave no actual influence to any third party was accepted by the commission.

"The club regrets the fact that they fell foul of the FA Premier League regulations, but the new owners of the club now want to focus on matters on the pitch and remaining in the Premier League.

"The club believes that promotion and relegation issues should be decided on the pitch and we are pleased that the commission agree with that view.

"The club will reflect on the financial penalty that has been imposed and will take advice before commenting on the possibility of an appeal or any further steps that might be taken."