Finally some Sense on Tevez Claims

Martin Samuel writing in today's Times is possibly the first journalist that I have read to question Kia Joorabchian's claims against West Ham rather than unquestioningly repeat his ludicrous accusations (e.g. see today's Mail).

Samuel suggests that Joorabachian like Sheffield United is chancing his arm and trying to frighten West Ham into coughing up some grubby cash.

"Sheffield United, like Joorabchian, want money, preferably in a settlement on the steps of the court, obtained if both parties shout loudly enough.

This has been Joorabchian's tactic since last summer. He claims to have a strong case, one that will send shock waves through football. In the circumstances, then, surely his best tactic would have been to have kept quiet, to have sprung his surprises in court, exposing a systematic attempt by West Ham's senior executives to lie and cheat. Instead he has conducted a campaign of vague insinuation through the media, going back to July, when he threatened to appear on Sheffield United's side in a High Court hearing."

Samuel's points out that Joorabchian is over one month overdue in handing in his particulars of claim document to the court which is normally handed in a week after launching an action. Therefore as no-one apart from Joorabchian and West Ham have seen the details of his actions he can continue to mouth off rubbish and papers like The Mail will continue to peddle it.

Essentially Joorabchian's claim seems to be that West Ham made verbal agreements to oil his already greasy palm and then failed to cough up. However as Samuel says,

"... because West Ham were attempting to persuade Tévez to stay and would have needed to keep lines of communication open with Joorabchian all conversations could be classed as the meanderings of pre-contractual negotiation, until an executed document is produced."