West Ham Found Guilty

According to The Daily Mail West Ham have been found guilty by an independent tribunal over the Carlos Tevez affair.

According to the Daily Mail, the judgement reads:

"We have no doubt that West Ham would have secured at least three fewer points over the 2006-07 season if Carlos Tevez had not been playing for the club. Indeed, we think it more likely than not on the evidence we heard that even over the final two games of the season West Ham would have achieved at least three points less overall without Mr Tevez. He played outstandingly well in the two wins West Ham secured in those last two games."

This judgement seems to wilfully ignore the number of games that West Ham lost with Carlos Tevez and Mascherano in the side whilst they became acclimatised to the Premier League. The fact that West Ham were battling relegation should alone have persuaded the judges that the Argentinians did not have a positive effect on West Ham's season.

Sheffield United are claiming £30 million in compensation and from the fire sale undertaken by West Ham over the summer it seems likely that West Ham know they face a heavy fine. This is despite the fact that Sheffield United were themselves investigated by the Premier League for breaking the same rule that West Ham United were penalised for in regard to the transfer of Steve Kabba to Watford. As Kumb point out the Blades also attempted to force another former player - Lilian Nalis, who they sold to Plymouth in January 2006 - to sit out a game a month after the transfer took place; both clear cases of third party influence.

As part of taking part in the tribunal it is believed West Ham now have no right to appeal. Which hardly seems fair as Sheffield Utd have appealed and appealed until they finally got a judgement to go their way.