West Ham United statement
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have issued a statement following reports on Tuesday
relating to the so-called Tevez affair
17.03.2009
Responding to reports today (Tuesday 17 March), West Ham United said:
"Despite the extensive media coverage, West Ham United have received no
formal legal claims from Sheffield United players or their previous manager
relating to the so-called Tevez affair.
"The club have settled the matter of compensation, as ruled upon by Lord
Griffiths, with Sheffield United and can see no basis for claims being
brought outside of the arbitration process, established by the Football
Association, which has now been brought to a close.
"However, it is now becoming clear that the ruling by Lord Griffiths has
encouraged a potentially endless legal chain of claims and counter claims,
which can only be damaging to English football. As a club we will strongly
resist any attempts to prolong this matter through the courts both to
protect our interests and those of the wider game. There is a lot more at
stake than the finances of West Ham United and we will do all we can to stop
this matter ending in a form of legal anarchy."
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Green still keen
WHUFC.com
Robert Green has reflected on 'a difficult night' that nevertheless keeps
the team moving forward for Europe
18.03.2009
Robert Green was not biting his tongue following Monday's Premier League
goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion. He had already done so, painfully,
following a clash with Baggies defender Jonas Olsson.
The Swede's 51st-minute challenge left the England goalkeeper feeling a bit
groggy and nursing a nasty cut in his mouth. Afterwards, however, the
29-year-old absolved Olsson of any blame for his uncomfortable injury,
pointing out that accidental collisions happen countless times in every game
of football.
"He caught me a treat and I managed to bite my tongue. For the remainder of
the game I could feel bits flaking off it. It is sore and I felt a bit
groggy but I certainly didn't see anything of the player or anything like
that. It's just one of those things that happens in football and you just
pick yourself up and come for the next cross. I did that and I helped the
team out as much as I could."
Focusing on the match itself Green, who made a fantastic save from James
Morrison to keep the match goalless, admitted the Hammers had lacked the
quality to break down Tony Mowbray's relegation-battlers and snatch a vital
winning goal.
"I think the way they played and with the players missing from our side it
made for a difficult night. They packed the midfield because they realised
that when we had the ball were not going to be able to hit it to a big man
up front because we had two small men up there. That made it difficult for
us.
"Having said that, even when we were on the ball, the quality probably
wasn't there even at the best of times and I don't think we had a shot on
target all night. When that happens, the best case scenario is getting a
nil-nil draw and we did that. We defended well and everyone worked really
hard. The difficulty was the quality on the ball that, on another day, would
have happened but it wasn't there for us."
While he and his team-mates would ideally have liked to have picked up a
third consecutive Premier League victory following wins over Manchester City
and Wigan Athletic, Green admitted that, without the suspended Carlton Cole
and injured Valon Behrami and Jack Collison, life was always going to be
more difficult against West Brom.
As such, he conceded that perhaps a goalless draw was not the worst result
in the world for Gianfranco Zola's team, who are still in pole position for
a place in next season's UEFA Europa League.
"It's a difficult one because the expectation levels are there. Looking at
the previous games we just managed to take a chance but against West Brom
there were not many chances to take. It was kind of a role reversal from
earlier this season when we were scoring quite a few goals but also
conceding quite a few. If you get the two right you're a decent winning team
but you can't fault the lads for their effort. It was clearly not the
sharpest game we've ever played."
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Dyer sees the positives
WHUFC.com
A commendable display against a high-flying Villa team has left coach Alex
Dyer more than content
18.03.2009
Alex Dyer was proud of his young players' efforts following West Ham
United's 2-0 Barclays Premier Reserve League South defeat by runaway leaders
Aston Villa.
With the first team in Premier League action against West Bromwich Albion at
the weekend, Dyer named a youthful side including no fewer than nine
teenagers against an in-form Villa lineup featuring former Hammers striker
Marlon Harewood and Togo World Cup star Moustapha Salifou.
Defenders Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson and Matt Fry, midfielders Danny Kearns,
Georg Grasser, Oliver Lee and Anthony Edgar and striker Balint Bajner all
started at Bishop's Stortford, while fellow Academy students Ahmed Abdulla,
Cristian Montano and Sergio Sanchez were introduced from the substitutes'
bench.
Hungary Under-21 goalkeeper Peter Kurucz, on loan from Ujpest FC until the
end of the season, was handed his competitive debut, while towering central
defender Bondz N'Gala was again entrusted with the captain's armband.
A goal in each half from Austrians Andreas Weimann and Dominik Hofbauer
proved to be the difference between the two sides, but coach Dyer was far
from disappointed with his youngsters' collective performance against a
Villa team that are now eight points clear at the top of the standings.
"We definitely were not disgraced. The boys came out and worked hard, we had
to change the formation a little bit and they adapted well to playing with
three at the back. We let in a sloppy goal just before half-time but, apart
from that, they boys can take a lot of credit from their performance.
"I put an extra man back there and they worked well together. We actually
played that same formation at Villa away [in the reverse fixture] and it
worked well there again. It was still good. The lads came out after
half-time and dug in and, to be fair, in the second half we had a good go at
it.
"They scored another goal at the end but you are going to get that when you
play with a lot of kids. Players switch-off or have a lapse here and there
but, overall, it was a good performance from the boys."
Dyer was pleased with the application and attitude shown by all of his
players, with Under-18 midfielders Lee and Grasser earning praise for their
approach to what was a stern test that will undoubtedly aid their long-term
development.
"They did well. Ollie played in a wing-back position and got up and down and
defended well. He also got forward and tried to deliver some passes to the
strikers Georg just sat in there in front of the defence and tried to get it
down and play. It was hard for a lot of the lads because they've had a lot
of games lately what with doubling up with the reserves and the youth team.
It's done them no harm whatsoever."
Dyer was also pleased with the leadership qualities shown by N'Gala. The
19-year-old returned from a loan spell at League One MK Dons to skipper the
reserves to an impressive victory at Arsenal a week ago, and the coach was
again impressed with his captain's inspirational qualities.
"I see that hopefully he can go on and play first-team football, hopefully
with West Ham but, if not, certainly at a good level of the game. He works
hard in training and trains with the first team all the time now and you can
see that he's developing. He's comfortable on the ball and he can pass it.
You can see that he encourages others to do the best around him and that's
why I made him captain."
With four games left, West Ham sit third in the nine-team table and Dyer is
targeting a top-three finish to complete what has been an encouraging season
at second-string level.
"I've said before that it's not the most important thing to win the games in
the reserves - it's about the development of players - but we still want to
win and finish as high as possible. It's good for the club if we can finish
second or third so that's what we'll be going for."
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Neill named in Australia squad
WHUFC.com
Lucas Neill has been called up by Australia for their upcoming FIFA World
Cup qualifier with Uzbekistan
18.03.2009
Australia head coach Pim Veerbeek has called up Lucas Neill to his squad for
their FIFA World Cup Asian group qualifier against Uzbekistan in Sydney. The
West Ham United and Australia captain will be looking to win his 48th cap
for his country when the sides meet on 1 April. The Socceroos are flying
high at the top of the Asian qualifier group with ten points from four
games, while Uzbekistan prop up the table in fifth position with one point
from their first four matchs.
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Villa edge out reserves
WHUFC.com
Alex Dyer's young reserve side were beaten 2-0 by league leaders Aston Villa
at Bishop's Stortford
17.03.2009
West Ham United reserves 0-2 Aston Villa reserves
A youthful West Ham United fell to a Barclays Premier Reserve League South
defeat by runaway leaders Aston Villa on a chilly night at Bishop's
Stortford.
Hammers coach Alex Dyer named an inexperienced lineup containing just one
player - 20-year-old striker Zavon Hines - with a first-team appearance for
the club under his belt. Dyer also handed a competitive debut to Hungary
Under-21 goalkeeper Peter Kurucz, who has joined West Ham from Ujpest FC on
loan until the end of the season.
West Ham's youngsters produced a spirited display in front of the watching
Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke at Woodside Park, with Hines and Under-18
midfielders Oliver Lee and Georg Grasser looking particularly lively.
However, it was Villa's Austrian Under-17 international winger Andreas
Weimann who scored the opening goal of what was a slow-burner of a game,
netting from close-range following a strong run and low cross from former
West Ham striker Marlon Harewood ten minutes before half-time.
In fairness, Weimann's strike was no more than Kevin MacDonald's side, who
are now eight points clear at the top of the table, deserved at the end of a
first half they largely dominated. Aside from the 17-year-old's goal, the
impressive Kurucz also did well to thwart the goalscorer again a short time
later, while Nathan Delfouneso and Togo midfielder Moustapha Salifou also
went close to doubling Villa's advantage before the break.
West Ham's best chance of the opening period fell to Balint Bajner after
just five minutes, but the Hungary Under-19 striker was denied by a good low
save from goalkeeper Elliott Parish following tricky build-up play from
partner Hines.
It was a much more even game after the interval, with both Hines and
Under-18 winger Anthony Edgar going close to levelling matters. First, Hines
dragged his shot wide of the near post on 64 minutes after robbing his
marker. Then, just 90 seconds later, Edgar was unlucky to see his
well-struck shot bounce back off a startled Parish.
Earlier in the half, the hosts also had claims for a penalty turned down by
the referee after Bajner's hooked effort appeared to hit a hand inside the
18-yard box.
While West Ham, who employed a fluid 3-4-2-1 formation, posed a greater
threat during the second 45 minutes, a confident-looking Villa were always
ready to spring forward themselves and could easily have doubled their
advantage but for their own wayward finishing.
Salifou could only fire weakly at Kurucz following a period of neat build-up
play, while the Hungarian goalkeeper was also in the right place to gather
England Under-19 striker Delfouneso's effort from Marc Albrighton's deep
cross.
The Villans' clearest opportunity, however, fell to substitute Dominik
Hofbauer, but the 17-year-old Austrian could only scoop his shot over the
crossbar after latching on to Salifou's inch-perfect pass.
Dyer sent on forwards Ahmed Abdulla - a recent goalscorer for Tony Carr's
Under-18s - and Cristian Montano in search of an equaliser, only for
MacDonald's visitors to double their lead through former SK Sturm Graz
youngster Hofbauer's 84th minute header. The visitors then.held on to secure
a victory that all but guarantees them the Barclays Premier Reserve League
South title.
Youth team defender Sergio Sanchez, who has joined West Ham from Barcelona,
was sent on for his reserve team debut with five minutes remaining, but the
game was already up by then.
For West Ham, there are still 12 points and a possible second-placed finish
left to play for when Dyer's side return to action at Stoke City on Monday
30 March.
West Ham United reserves: Kurucz, Okus, Fry, N'Gala, Eyjolfsson, Kearns,
Lee, Grasser (Sanchez 86), Edgar, Bajner (Abdulla 75), Hines (Montano 81)
Subs not used: Loveday, McNaughton
Aston Villa reserves: Parish, Roome, Lichaj, Clark, Lowry (Baker 61),
Albrighton, Hogg, Salifou, Weimann (Hofbauer 64), Delfouneso (Collins 90),
Harewood
Subs not used: Dau, Gardner
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
(Legal) anarchy in the UK
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 17th March 2009
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have released a statement condemning those parties wishing
to cash in by way of compensation claims in the wake of the out-of-court
settlement with Sheffield United.
The Hammers released a statement tonight after a day in which no less than
three parties - the current and former players of Sheffield United, Leeds
United and former Blades manager Neil Warnock - announced their intention to
sue West Ham for damages.
Sheffield United won up to £25million compensation yesterday having
successfully argued that their relegation from the Premier League in 2007
was due solely to the appearances of Carlos Tevez in a West Ham shirt that
season.
The statement, posted on whufc.com (and attributed to 'West Ham United'
rather than CEO Scott Duxbury who is usually responsible for such briefings)
confirmed that the club were yet to receive any further claims since Monday
- whilst adding that they could see 'no basis' for further claims.
"Despite the extensive media coverage, West Ham United have received no
formal legal claims from Sheffield United players or their previous manager
relating to the so-called Tevez affair," read the statement.
"The club have settled the matter of compensation, as ruled upon by Lord
Griffiths, with Sheffield United and can see no basis for claims being
brought outside of the arbitration process, established by the Football
Association, which has now been brought to a close.
"However, it is now becoming clear that the ruling by Lord Griffiths has
encouraged a potentially endless legal chain of claims and counter claims,
which can only be damaging to English football. As a club we will strongly
resist any attempts to prolong this matter through the courts both to
protect our interests and those of the wider game.
"There is a lot more at stake than the finances of West Ham United and we
will do all we can to stop this matter ending in a form of legal anarchy."
* Sky Sports are reporting tonight that West Ham asked for details of the
potential claim by the 2006/07 Sheffield United squad members four weeks ago
- compensation which the group's legal representative has revealed is worth
around £3million.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers will fight Warnock
West Ham vow to 'strongly resist' any further legal action over Tevez affair
Last updated: 17th March 2009
SSN
West Ham have vowed to 'strongly resist' any further legal action over the
Carlos Tevez affair. The club reached an undisclosed out-of-court settlement
with Sheffield United this week after an arbitration panel had ruled the
Argentina international should not have been permitted to play in the final
matches of the 2006/07 Premier League season. But that does not seem to be
an end of the matter as former Blades boss Neil Warnock has revealed he is
considering launching a personal compensation claim.
Sky Sports News understands that Sheffield United players have made a legal
claim in excess of £3million. But the Hammers say they have not received any
formal legal claims, and will 'strongly resist any attempts to prolong this
matter through the courts'. In a statement on the club's official website,
West Ham said: "Despite the extensive media coverage, West Ham United have
received no formal legal claims from Sheffield United players or their
previous manager relating to the so-called Tevez affair.
"The club have settled the matter of compensation, as ruled upon by Lord
Griffiths, with Sheffield United and can see no basis for claims being
brought outside of the arbitration process, established by the Football
Association, which has now been brought to a close. "However, it is now
becoming clear that the ruling by Lord Griffiths has encouraged a
potentially endless legal chain of claims and counter claims, which can only
be damaging to English football. As a club we will strongly resist any
attempts to prolong this matter through the courts both to protect our
interests and those of the wider game. "There is a lot more at stake than
the finances of West Ham United and we will do all we can to stop this
matter ending in a form of legal anarchy."
Chris Farnell - from IPS Law, representing the players who are considering
taking action after their relegation - stressed details of their claim have
been sent to West Ham.
Farnell told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We have been in contact with the lawyers
acting on behalf of West Ham for some period time in correspondence, and
they have detailed base of our claim. "They have a period of time to respond
to that in one way or another. Either the matter will be settled from that
or we will proceed towards arbitration. It would be arbitration, not a
court, under the rules of the Premier League."
Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has also confirmed his club are seeking
legal advice regarding a compensation claim. The Blades' relegation in 2007
meant that Leeds missed out on contingency payments, believed to total a
six-figure sum, in relation to Premier League survival for the transfers of
Rob Hulse, Matthew Kilgallon and Ian Bennett.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Green remembers positives
Hammers keeper has strong memories of great escape
Last updated: 17th March 2009
SSN
Robert Green has recalled West Ham's great escape ahead of the Carlos Tevez
affair, when reflecting on the dramatic events of the 2006/07 season. The
keeper's comments come after the Hammers this week agreed an out-of-court
settlement with Sheffield United over the saga. While Tevez's goals helped
keep the Hammers up, Green also had a key role in the final weeks of that
season, with his inspired performance against Arsenal coming during an
amazing run that saw West Ham win seven games out of their last nine. Green
believes the Hammers' fans will remember the positives once the dust settles
on the affair. He said: "That is what I'll remember, the staying up, and
that is what the West Ham fans will do too."
While the two clubs have reached agreement, the saga looks set to rumble on
as there could still be compensation claims from former Blades boss Neil
Warnock and the players who were relegated. Green added: "They can do what
they like, to be honest. "There is only so much before you lose interest.
"It has been going on for two years but it is one of those things and if it
rumbles on, it rumbles on."
The two clubs could also meet each other next season if the Blades are
promoted from the Championship, with any clash having extra spice after the
Tevez affair.
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Bates considering compensation
Whites supremo seeking six-figure sum over Tevez affair
Last updated: 17th March 2009
SSN
Ken Bates has confirmed Leeds United are seeking legal advice regarding a
compensation claim, following the settlement of the Carlos Tevez affair.
Sheffield United agreed an undisclosed out-of-court settlement with West Ham
after an arbitration panel had ruled the Argentina international should not
have been permitted to play in the final matches of the 2006/07 Premier
League season. The Blades' relegation in 2007 meant that Leeds missed out on
contingency payments, believed to total a six-figure sum, in relation to
Premier League survival for the transfers of Rob Hulse, Matthew Kilgallon
and Ian Bennett. "We sold a number of players to Sheffield United with
contingencies," he told Yorkshire Radio. "When they got relegated on the
last day of the season we missed out on a substantial sum. "That's what we
lost and if they are being compensated for their loss we believe we should
be compensated for our loss. There are other clubs in the same boat who have
similar claims. "Ours is the biggest claim and it would be nice to collect
that and strengthen our squad. We are currently taking advice on it and
won't be commenting further at this time."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham warn of 'legal anarchy' in Tevez claims
By John Nisbet
Independent.co.uk
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
West Ham United last night insisted it was time to draw a line under the
Carlos Tevez affair saying the whole episode could turn into "legal anarchy"
as they could still face further potential compensation claims after paying
out twice already.
The London club and Sheffield United brokered a settlement to end the
dispute between the clubs yesterday, which is thought to have been in the
region of £25m in favour of the Yorkshire side. The Blades sought
compensation after their relegation to the Championship in 2007, which they
believe would have been West Ham's fate if not for the goals scored by
Tevez, – illegally a Hammers player – and an independent panel chaired by
Lord Griffiths favoured them in its initial findings.
The West Ham statement read: "Despite the media coverage, West Ham United
have received no formal legal claims from Sheffield United players or their
previous manager [Neil Warnock] relating to the so-called Tevez affair. The
club have settled the matter of compensation and can see no basis for claims
being brought outside of the arbitration process, established by the
Football Association.
"However, it is now becoming clear that the ruling by Lord Griffiths has
encouraged a potentially endless legal chain of claims and counter claims.
There is a lot more at stake than the finances of West Ham United and we
will do all we can to stop this matter ending in a form of legal anarchy."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Neil Warnock Gives The Skinny On Why He Wants To Crush West Ham In Court
True to the first syllable of his name, Warnock is not letting peace prevail
in what looked to be a settled dispute...
18 Mar 2009 02:57:13
Goal.com
Former Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock has spoken at length about his
grievances towards West Ham United over the Carlos Tevez saga and gave
justification as to why he is preparing to take the matter to court. The
protracted dispute between the two clubs over the Hammers' fielding of
Carlos Tevez, who was deemed ineligible for the 2006-07 campaign, finally
looked to have come to an accord on Monday after the warring parties agreed
an out-of-court compensation package. However, Warnock still has a major
bone to pick, though he insisted that he is motivated by the pursuit of
justice rather than revenge by way of a fat payout. Warnock told Sky Sports
News, "I am pleased it's finalised because we knew all along we were in the
right. There should have been action sooner but at least now it can be put
to bed between the two clubs.
"If it had been a bigger club it would have been dealt with at the time and
it wouldn't have been brushed under the carpet. I am very bitter about
Richard Scudamore and the Premier League because it was my dream job as
well. "I wanted to get this out of the way first and then I would look at
it. I will be taking legal advice myself. "I just feel very bitter that I am
not a Premier league manager still. If you only knew how much hard work it
was in the seven years to get the team up to the Premier League, it was a
bitter disappointment knowing Tevez shouldn't have been in the [West Ham]
team the last few weeks."
Warnock, who is adamant that Sheffield United would still be in England's
top tier two years on were it not for their most dubious of relegations, had
the following reaction when asked whether he has a vendetta against the
Hammers: "Not really, no. I would love to manage them. "You are going to get
stick and we have been slaughtered in the London press, especially. "But
justice in England is the major thing and it would have been easy to brush
Sheffield United aside. "We have wanted the truth to come out all the way
along the line. When wrongs have been done against you, you fight for your
cause. "I don't think anything can compensate you for losing your Premier
League status. "I think we could have been an established Premier League
side and we had high hopes of taking the club forward, spending money in our
first summer to keep us up. "Even West Ham fans know, if you ask them why
they stayed up, there is only one word and that is Tevez."
Derek Wanner, Goal.com
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West Ham confident they can fight off Neil Warnock legal action over Carlos
Tevez affair
West Ham and the Premier League are confident that they will be able to
defend any legal action from Neil Warnock or Sheffield United players
arising from the Carlos Tevez affair.
Telegraph
By Paul Kelso and John Ley
Last Updated: 7:53AM GMT 18 Mar 2009
Last week the two clubs agreed compensation of £20 million, to be paid over
the next five years, for Tevez's role in keeping West Ham in the Premier
League and relegating United.
The agreement was announced on Monday, prompting Warnock to threaten to sue
West Ham and launch a tirade of criticism at the Premier League and its
chief executive Richard Scudamore.
North East clubs in danger of heading south West Ham were initially fined
£5.5 million by an independent Premier League panel for breaching
third-party ownership rules, and a subsequent Football Association tribunal
chaired by Lord Griffiths ruled that compensation should be paid.
All attempts by both clubs to challenge these decisions in the courts have
failed, and the League and West Ham are convinced that the process is
legally robust.
Sheffield United have agreed as part of their deal with West Ham not to
support any action brought by players, and the Upton Park club are yet to
receive any writs.
In a statement West Ham said: "West Ham United have received no formal legal
claims from Sheffield United players or their previous manager relating to
the so-called Tevez affair.
"It is now becoming clear that the ruling by Lord Griffiths has encouraged a
potentially endless legal chain of claims and counter claims, which can only
be damaging to English football.
"As a club we will strongly resist any attempts to prolong this matter
through the courts both to protect our interests and those of the wider
game. There is a lot more at stake than the finances of West Ham United and
we will do all we can to stop this matter ending in a form of legal
anarchy."
Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor claimed
that Sheffield United players had a right to expect compensation, but
indicated it should come from Sheffield rather than West Ham: "I think the
very fact that you've had a judge, in arbitration, make it clear that West
Ham did breach the rules and, as such, have a duty to a club that got
relegated. And from that point of view that's been quantified.
"And in a similar way we'd expect the players to be similarly compensated.
My expectation would have been was that should have been included in the sum
that Sheffield have already got."
It is understood that any claims made by players or Warnock will have to be
carried out independently.
"We've raised it with Sheffield and they said they were advised not to
include the players," added Taylor. "I find that quite astonishing really
because it can now lead to a claim from the players against their own club
or, in some cases, the former club."
Warnock, now at Crystal Palace, has confirmed he is seeking advice, adding:
"I just feel very bitter that I'm not a Premiership manager still.
"If you only new how hard work it was in the seven years to get the team
into the Premiership, you'd realise the bitter disappointment, knowing Tevez
shouldn't have been in the [West Ham] team the last few weeks.
"I don't think anything can compensate you for losing your Premiership
status; everybody knows it was my dream job. I think we could have been an
established Premiership side."
Meanwhile, West Ham remain on course for a place in Europe after drawing 0-0
with West Bromwich Albion on Monday. And goalkeeper Robert Green, who kept a
third successive clean sheet and was in goal when West Ham survived at the
end of the 2006-07 campaign, is glad the clubs have come to agreement.
Asked about potential claims by Sheffield United players, Green said: "They
can do what they like."
Green suffered a potential serious clash on Monday when he was caught by the
arm of Albion defender Jonas Olsson. Referee Mark Halsey took no action at
the time and, after viewing the incident again, he has confirmed he was
happy with the challenge, meaning that the FA will take no action against
the Swede.
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West Ham tell Warnock: 'Enough is enough'
Print this page
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2009
Source: ITN
West Ham have insisted it is time to draw a line under the Carlos Tevez
saga, despite fresh reports that former Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock
is set to sue the club.
The Londoners and United brokered a settlement to end the dispute between
the clubs on Monday, which is thought to have been in the region of £10-15
million in favour of the South Yorkshire side.
The Blades sought compensation after their relegation to the Championship in
2007, which they believe would have been West Ham's fate if not for the
goals scored by Tevez, and an independent panel chaired by Lord Griffiths
favoured them in its initial findings.
Argentina striker Tevez, now with Manchester United, moved to Upton Park at
the start of the 2006-07 season with compatriot Javier Mascherano, but the
club were later fined £5.5million by the Premier League for failing to fully
disclose the terms of the deal that brought the pair to England.
Sheffield United continued to pursue a private damages claim, and it has now
emerged their former manager Neil Warnock and a group of Blades players are
considering bringing new cases against the Hammers.
West Ham issued a statement on their website saying they will do everything
they can to prevent "legal anarchy".
It read: "Despite the extensive media coverage, we have received no formal
legal claims from Sheffield United players or their previous manager
relating to the so-called Tevez affair.
"The club have settled the matter of compensation, as ruled upon by Lord
Griffiths, with Sheffield United and can see no basis for claims being
brought outside of the arbitration process, established by the Football
Association, which has now been brought to a close.
"However, it is now becoming clear that the ruling by Lord Griffiths has
encouraged a potentially endless legal chain of claims and counter claims,
which can only be damaging to English football.
"As a club, we will strongly resist any attempts to prolong this matter
through the courts, both to protect our interests and those of the wider
game.
"There is a lot more at stake than the finances of West Ham and we will do
all we can to stop this matter ending in a form of legal anarchy."
© Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
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Palace look set for mid-table mediocrity so Warnock blames West Ham,
Scudamore and refs
Last updated at 10:37 AM on 18th March 2009
Daily Mail
Neil Warnock showed last night why he might need to spend a little more time
worrying about Crystal Palace and a little less worrying about claiming
compensation from West Ham. The outspoken manager has just presided over
five defeats in the last eight games, the latest a 3-1 defeat at Barnsley,
and in his second season in charge of the Selhurst Park club has failed to
make the team into genuine promotion material. Warnock may well put in more
than the required hours for the job, but evidently it is to little effect.
If he was the great Premier League manager that he contends he should be,
making it into last term's play-off semi-finals as your main achievement is
not exactly impressive. Warnock, who seems never to have been at fault for a
defeat (just ask the countless officials he has blamed), has called for the
head of Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore. The point he makes
about the authority's conduct is a good one but the way he is going he
should be more worried about feeling the axe than urging others to swing it.
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Why Carlos Tevez farce should be the end of Richard Scudamore, by Oliver
Holt
By Oliver Holt 18/03/2009
The Mirror
Now that West Ham have agreed to pay Sheffield United £15million and
effectively admitted they cheated them out of a place in the Premier League,
I don't blame Neil Warnock for at least thinking about pursuing the
six-figure bonus he'd been promised for keeping Sheffield up that season.
And why should Richard Scudamore who mishandled the affair from start to
finish, now retain even a shred of credibility as Premier League chief
executive?
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Relegation Lawyers 4U are only winners after Tevez ruling
Last updated at 7:48 AM on 18th March 2009
Daily Mail
'Ultimately, however, we have not found it necessary to come to a conclusion
whether the cause of Sheffield United's relegation was (a) the number of
points achieved by West Ham with Mr Tevez's assistance or (b) Sheffield
United's poor performance. At most Sheffield United's poor performance was
an equally effective cause. This is insufficient to displace the causation
of another effective cause. The law is summarised in Chitty on Contracts
(29th ed), Vol 1, paragraph 26-038 under the heading 'Two Causes': 'If a
breach of contract is one of two causes, both co-operating and both of equal
efficacy in causing loss to the claimant, the party responsible for the
breach is liable to the claimant for the loss. The contract breaker is
liable so long as his breach was "an" effective cause of his loss; the court
need not choose which cause was more effective.'
Got that? Because you will be hearing a lot of it in the future. It is the
reason the Carlos Tevez saga is not over and the Iain Hume saga may only
just be beginning. It explains the emergence of hideous opportunists
Relegation Lawyers 4U and may ultimately infest every facet of sporting
competition, from the lowest Sunday league to the top of the Premier League.
It may not stop at football, either.
Was it really all down to me? Carlos Tevez during his eventful solitary
season at Upton Park.
Page 46 of the Lord Griffiths ruling, if you are interested. Except nobody
was. Mostly, people were so busy bellowing about justice when the Football
Association tribunal produced a decision out of left field - much like the
original Premier League commission that did not deduct points from West Ham
United because it was late in the season - that they did not examine the
finer details, the precedents and principles on which the case had been won.
For here, on the penultimate page of his summary, using contractual law from
a completely different area of commerce, Lord Griffiths, 85, brilliantly
establishes that your league position is nothing to do with you. It is the
work of that lot, them, whoever they are. All the other teams. And if one of
them has acted in bad faith and you can link their action to your
misfortune, then it is bonanza time. All the events, all the games that were
within your control, cease to matter.
Now we can look at this two ways. We can continue the celebrations or
examine the wider ramifications, because even if you think Sheffield United
were gypped, this is dangerous territory.
Indeed, Sheffield United may be the first club to discover the extent of the
legal minefield that has been planted if Barnsley are relegated and their
directors chose to link their fall into League One to the elbow thrown by
Chris Morgan, the Sheffield United captain, into the face of Hume,
Barnsley's incapacitated striker and record signing.
To begin with, Chitty on Contracts (29th ed), Vol 1, paragraph 26-038 under
the heading 'Two Causes', the precedent cited by Lord Griffiths to pin the
responsibility for Sheffield United's league position to a rival club. In
other forms of industry, this is how it works. Say you and I are in business
and I act in bad faith and break our contract. Your company then goes bust
and we end up in court.
'Ah,' I say, 'but this firm was going to the wall anyway. The staff were
useless, the management incompetent, it was a matter of time before it went
toes up.'
According to Chitty on Contracts, this does not matter. You do not have to
prove the viability of your business, only that by my actions I placed it in
jeopardy. This is what Lord Griffiths applied in the Tevez case, except he
used it with reference to a league table for which 20 clubs play 380
matches, which is not the same as a one-to-one arrangement.
The ruling of Lord Griffiths could mean that Barnsley take action against
Sheffield United after Iain Hume suffered a fractured skull in this
challenge from Chris Morgan.
Were Sheffield United and West Ham in a two-team league, yes, the principle
would apply; but how could West Ham be responsible for what happened on
April 17, 2007, for instance, when Neil Warnock, then the Sheffield United
manager, chose to field a weakened team at Manchester United and lost 2-0?
How can a single player at another club be responsible for Sheffield United
having the worst away record in the Premier League that season? Who can
quantify individual factors within so many variables? There were 19 other
teams in the Premier League that season and Sheffield United lost to 16 of
them.
On November 8, 2008, Barnsley striker Hume suffered brain damage as a result
of a challenge from Sheffield United defender Morgan. The replays of this
incident look horrendous. A yellow card was issued but no further action was
taken by the FA. Hume has not played since. It is sad but, under normal
circumstances, there the matter would end. At most, there could be a
personal claim by Hume against Morgan, which may still happen.
Yet what has changed as a result of the Lord Griffiths ruling is the dynamic
between the clubs. Barnsley were 17th and safe when that incident occurred
and, at the weekend, dropped into the relegation zone. Is that now the work
of a Sheffield United employee? Would Hume have made the difference? Nobody
knows, and before the Lord Griffiths ruling this uncertainty would have been
enough to preclude legal action. Now it is not.
Warnock, who must hold a world record for games lost in which it was
somebody else's fault, and his former Sheffield United players are preparing
for legal action, because Tevez cut short their Premier League careers.
Yes, it was Carlos Tevez, then a West Ham striker, who caused Warnock's team
to lose to Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham before he had even joined West Ham,
plus Reading (twice), Everton, Birmingham (in the Carling Cup), Chelsea
(twice), Manchester United (twice), West Ham (Tevez did not score and
stormed away from Upton Park after being substituted on 66 minutes),
Portsmouth, Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Swansea (in the FA Cup),
Blackburn, Liverpool, Bolton, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Wigan that season.
Stands to reason, doesn't it? Says right here on page 46.
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Curbishley fumes over claims Tevez saved West Ham
18.03.09 | tribalfootball.com
Alan Curbishley has blasted claims that Carlos Tevez was sole reason for
West Ham United beating the drop two years ago. Curbishley, who led the
Hammers to safety in 2007 after guiding his side to seven victories from
their final nine league games, reckons claims that Tevez, now of Manchester
United, saved the club on his own are ludicrous. "It's fundamentally flawed,
I think, the argument that Carlos Tevez kept West Ham up," he said. "When
you think about what goes on in a whole season for the judgment to say that
Tevez kept us up, or was the main reason we stayed up, is wrong. Cast your
mind back, Tevez didn't score for 20 games. In the run in in the last nine
games we used 13 players which we never had the opportunity to do before
because of injuries. "People forget we scored a winning goal at Blackburn
that didn't cross the line - so are they going to sue the linesman and the
referee? We kept a lot of clean sheets. I don't think any West Ham fans will
ever forget the game at Arsenal when Rob Green made about a dozen saves.
Bobby Zamora scored two winning goals at home to Everton and away to
Arsenal. "Bobby Zamora had been out injured and came in for the run-in and
was nice and fresh. James Collins came in and was nice and fresh. We brought
Mark Noble in and suddenly we had a different team. We managed to keep it
together in terms of consistent team selection. "It was a fantastic run-in
and I always felt the side were good enough to stay up. It was a great
escape and it wasn't down to just one person."
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West Ham find Siena asking price too rich for Zuniga
18.03.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United face being priced out of a move for Siena fullback Juan
Camilo Zuniga. The Hammers have been tracking the 23-year-old Colombia
international but interest from Schalke has driven up his asking price to
more than £7.4million.
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Kurucz handed West Ham debut by Dyer
18.03.09 | tribalfootball.com
Peter Kurucz made his West Ham United debut in yesterday's reserve-team
defeat to Aston Villa. Hammers coach Alex Dyer handed a competitive debut to
Hungary Under-21 goalkeeper Kurucz, who has joined West Ham from Ujpest FC
on loan until the end of the season.
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