July 03, 2007
WEST HAM have escaped the threat of relegation after they were found NOT guilty in the Carlos Tevez affair.
The Hammers were facing the drop after some clubs, including Sheffield United, took action against their £5.5million fine for breaking Premier League rules.
The clubs felt the punishment should have included a points deduction — which could have changed the shape of the bottom of the table.
But today's verdict means the original ruling still stands and ends any chance of a further hearing.
A statement from the arbitration panel read: "The tribunal have found in favour of the FA Premier League on both issues and dismissed the claims of Sheffield United FC and Fulham FC."
The ruling from the arbitration panel said Sheffield United would not normally have been allowed to dispute another club's punishment but that there were "exceptional circumstances" due to their relegation and therefore affected their membership of the Premier League.
The tribunal said they had "sympathy" with the Blades, while West Ham had been "deliberately deceitful" and yet remained in the Premier League.
They could not, however, rule that the independent commission's decision had been wrong.
The panel's ruling states: "Ian Mill QC [representing Sheffield United] mounted a strong attack on the legality of the decision and the tribunal had much sympathy for Sheffield United's grievances.
"However the tribunal had to apply the principles of judicial review and determine whether the decision was irrational or perverse.
"This is a very strict test and is very difficult to satisfy.
"It concluded that it was impossible for this tribunal to find that the decision was irrational or perverse."
A Sheffield United statement said: "We are obviously very disappointed by this conclusion, in particular in circumstances where the tribunal recognised that the outcome of the decision turned out to be "unfortunate in the extreme," and that Sheffield United have done nothing wrong to merit this outcome.
"We are currently considering these findings with our professional advisers.
"It would be inappropriate for us to comment further until we have had the opportunity - properly - to consider the reasons the tribunal has given for its decision.
"We are indebted to the support we have received from supporters and professional individuals in relation to our Campaign for Fairness, particularly those with no prior Sheffield United allegiance, and for the support given to us (whether or otherwise) by fellow clubs.
WEST HAM have escaped the threat of relegation after they were found NOT guilty in the Carlos Tevez affair.
The Hammers were facing the drop after some clubs, including Sheffield United, took action against their £5.5million fine for breaking Premier League rules.
The clubs felt the punishment should have included a points deduction — which could have changed the shape of the bottom of the table.
But today's verdict means the original ruling still stands and ends any chance of a further hearing.
A statement from the arbitration panel read: "The tribunal have found in favour of the FA Premier League on both issues and dismissed the claims of Sheffield United FC and Fulham FC."
The ruling from the arbitration panel said Sheffield United would not normally have been allowed to dispute another club's punishment but that there were "exceptional circumstances" due to their relegation and therefore affected their membership of the Premier League.
The tribunal said they had "sympathy" with the Blades, while West Ham had been "deliberately deceitful" and yet remained in the Premier League.
They could not, however, rule that the independent commission's decision had been wrong.
The panel's ruling states: "Ian Mill QC [representing Sheffield United] mounted a strong attack on the legality of the decision and the tribunal had much sympathy for Sheffield United's grievances.
"However the tribunal had to apply the principles of judicial review and determine whether the decision was irrational or perverse.
"This is a very strict test and is very difficult to satisfy.
"It concluded that it was impossible for this tribunal to find that the decision was irrational or perverse."
A Sheffield United statement said: "We are obviously very disappointed by this conclusion, in particular in circumstances where the tribunal recognised that the outcome of the decision turned out to be "unfortunate in the extreme," and that Sheffield United have done nothing wrong to merit this outcome.
"We are currently considering these findings with our professional advisers.
"It would be inappropriate for us to comment further until we have had the opportunity - properly - to consider the reasons the tribunal has given for its decision.
"We are indebted to the support we have received from supporters and professional individuals in relation to our Campaign for Fairness, particularly those with no prior Sheffield United allegiance, and for the support given to us (whether or otherwise) by fellow clubs.