By JIM MUNRO
May 16, 2007
PREMIER LEAGUE officials have sent a six-page letter to all 20 club chairmen
outlining why West Ham were not docked points over the Carlos Tevez affair.
It also states that the Hammers have satisfactorily terminated the
"offending third party agreement" surrounding Tevez's move and are therefore
"not continuing to be in breach" of Premier League rules.
Chief executive Richard Scudamore and chairman Sir Dave Richards have put
their name to the document which states that the punishment meted out to
West Ham, in the form of a £5.5m fine, was "in accordance with our Rules".
The key extracts from that letter are as follows:
"At no point were West Ham United charged with playing an ineligible player
- both (Carlos) Tevez and (Javier) Mascherano were registered on August 31.
All the required documentation was received by the Premier League and the
usual confirmations received and sent. Registration is definitive as to the
status of the player. At no time has Mr Tevez's registration been revoked or
terminated and at all times he has been eligible to play for West Ham."
______________________________________________
"The Independent Commission was...convened strictly in accordance with the
rules as agreed by all member clubs. Its chair, Simon Bourne-Arton QC, acted
very promptly and properly, laying out directions for the hearing in the
shortest possible timescale."
_______________________________________________
"The Independent Commission carried its work out fully in accordance with
our rules, having adopted practices entirely consistent with formal judicial
proceedings. In reaching their decision the Independent Commission clearly
considered the matter very carefully and did not deliver an irrational or
extreme judgement and delivered the sanction that only they (having
considered the matter fully and in light of copious evidence) deemed to be
proportionate and appropriate."
_________________________________________________
"The media, and of course those aggrieved by the decision, have analysed the
seven reasons given by the Independent Commission for not deducting points
and concentrated on those that to them seem the least convincing. However,
there are others that have a less convenient truth, particularly the one
that says, 'had the club in time made disclosure of the third party
contracts to the FAPL, then, in all probability, contracts could have been
entered into which would not
have offended the rules'."
__________________________________________________
"The League could not function if other clubs could effectively intervene in
an attempt to overturn decisions not to their liking."
__________________________________________________
"Given the complexities around this, we would ask you to step back from the
detail and consider the matter in more general terms:
1. Tevez has been properly registered to play for West Ham United since 31
August 2006. The Board, under our Rules, is charged with the authority to
determine this.
2. He continues to be registered with West Ham United.
3. This is a case without precedent and certainly cannot be compared with
Clubs who have played unregistered players or players ineligible through
suspension.
4. On 26 April West Ham United admitted to breaches of Rules B13 and U18 -
for which they have been fined in accordance with our Rules.
5. The offending third party agreement has been terminated by West Ham
United and therefore they are not continuing to be in breach."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Are you listening McCabe? - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 16th May 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
The Premier League have released details of a letter sent to all 20 member
clubs expaining why West Ham United were not docked points. The letter -
sent from Richard Scudamore and Dave Richards to all existing Premier League
clubs today - confirmed that Carlos Tevez's registration was eligible from
the date he signed. It also confirmed that the league were satisfied with
the amendments to Tevez's contract made at the end of last month.
"At no point were West Ham United charged with playing an ineligible
player," stated the missive. "Both Tevez and Mascherano were registered on
31 st August 2006. All the required documentation was received.
"At no time has Mr Tevez's registration been revoked or terminated and at
all times he has been eligible to play for West Ham.
"Tevez has been properly registered to play for West Ham United since 31
August 2006. He continues to be registered with West Ham United."
And with regard to a string of stories appearing in the medie over the past
few days, the letter added:
"The media, and of course those aggrieved by the decision, have analysed the
seven reasons given by the Independent Commission for not deducting points
and concentrated on those that to them seem the least convincing.
"However, there are others that have a less convenient truth, particularly
the one that says 'had the club in time made disclosure of the third party
contracts to the FAPL, then, in all probability, contracts could have been
entered into which would not have offended the rules'."
"This is a case without precedent and certainly cannot be compared with
Clubs who have played unregistered players or players ineligible through
suspension.
"On 26 April, West Ham United admitted to breaches of Rules B13 and U18 -
for which they have been fined in accordance with our Rules.
"The offending third party agreement has been terminated by West Ham United
and therefore they are not continuing to be in breach."
Sheffied United Chairman Kevin McCabe - who bizarrely blamed the Tevez
situation for Neil Warnock's sacking yesterday - today pushed for the case
to go to arbitration. That request is almost certain to be rejected by the
Premier League.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Straw clutching - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 16th May 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Sheffield United have begun arbitration proceedings against the Premier
League. The Blades decided to take the dramatic step having been told by
legal eagles that they have no chance of reversing the league's decision to
fine West Ham United £5.5m in order to preserve their Premiership status.
Sheffield United Chairman Kevin McCabe served a notice of procedure to the
Premier League this lunchtime, before making the following statement via the
Blades website: "We are still working towards debating matters with the
Premier League as we want to undo the wrong and the injustice of the
decision," he said.
"The events off the field of play have culminated in our arbitration
procedures. "We have written to every MP, explaining the background of the
injustice and that it needs to be satisfied for the good of the sport.
"First and foremost we're doing everything to protect the interests of
United. "Will the Premier League accept our arbitration letters? Litigation
can be pursued and, if it has to be pursued, we'll do it."
McCabe - who continues to claim that Tevez was 'ineligible' to play for the
Hammers despite that never having been the case - also insisted that he
would be continuing his crusade to have the league extended to 21 clubs next
season in order to incorporate the Blades, despite them being relegated by
virtue of losing at home to Wigan last weekend. "It is up to the FA Premier
League to find a way round this exceptional circumstance where a club which
has played by the rules has been relegated at the expense of one club who
have fielded ineligible players," he added. "The simple answer is why not
have 21 clubs in the Premiership next season and relegate four of them at
the end? It is not my decision to make but it seems like a very simple
solution."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment