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More legal action in West Ham case
England - 16 May, 2007
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Four English Premier League clubs will step up the judicial pressure on the league to further penalise West Ham for violations in the transfers of two Argentine nationals.
The clubs will seek a judicial review of the decision not to dock West Ham points for breaking rules on third-party ownership. The ruling by lawyer Simon Bourne-Arton said a points deduction would have been appropriate earlier in the season, but was not fair to West Ham and its fans toward the end.
The relegated clubs – Charlton, Fulham, Sheffield United, along with nearly relegated Wigan – will request that an arbitration panel be set up to examine whether the decision by an independent commission to fine West Ham GBP 5.5 million – and dock no points – was flawed.
If the league denies that request, then the clubs have indicated they will go to the courts to seek a judicial review in an attempt to overturn the decision.
Fulham also might file a separate legal claim against the Premier League after West Ham's win over Manchester United came courtesy of a goal by Carlos Tevez – one of the Argentine players. That ensured that West Ham finished a place above Fulham, earning the club an extra GBP 500,000.
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan said he still will back legal action even though his side avoided relegation. Wigan said at least three more clubs – including Middlesbrough – would support them.
"The fight continues and the clubs stand firm," Fulham director Stuart Benson said. "We are grossly dissatisfied. The fact that the relegation issues have been sorted out makes no difference whatsoever."
Some of the issues the clubs have with the commission's decision include whether the loyalty of West Ham's fans should have been an issue, and that the club had been taken over mid-season by Icelandic businessman Eggert Magnusson should not have been relevant.
Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe said he was going to round up support among the league members over the coming days.
The clubs will seek a judicial review of the decision not to dock West Ham points for breaking rules on third-party ownership. The ruling by lawyer Simon Bourne-Arton said a points deduction would have been appropriate earlier in the season, but was not fair to West Ham and its fans toward the end.
The relegated clubs – Charlton, Fulham, Sheffield United, along with nearly relegated Wigan – will request that an arbitration panel be set up to examine whether the decision by an independent commission to fine West Ham GBP 5.5 million – and dock no points – was flawed.
If the league denies that request, then the clubs have indicated they will go to the courts to seek a judicial review in an attempt to overturn the decision.
Fulham also might file a separate legal claim against the Premier League after West Ham's win over Manchester United came courtesy of a goal by Carlos Tevez – one of the Argentine players. That ensured that West Ham finished a place above Fulham, earning the club an extra GBP 500,000.
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan said he still will back legal action even though his side avoided relegation. Wigan said at least three more clubs – including Middlesbrough – would support them.
"The fight continues and the clubs stand firm," Fulham director Stuart Benson said. "We are grossly dissatisfied. The fact that the relegation issues have been sorted out makes no difference whatsoever."
Some of the issues the clubs have with the commission's decision include whether the loyalty of West Ham's fans should have been an issue, and that the club had been taken over mid-season by Icelandic businessman Eggert Magnusson should not have been relevant.
Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe said he was going to round up support among the league members over the coming days.
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