West Ham investigated over Mascherano

The FA will investigate English West Ham over accusations of financial misconduct when the club signed Javier Mascherano last year.

The News of the World said it obtained papers that detail an undisclosed payment of GBP 339,000 relative to the deal, and which was not disclosed, as is required, to the FA.

"We can confirm that we have received some documents and we will be investigating the matter further," said an FA spokesman.

West Ham is already facing another charge from the Premier League regarding the circumstances surrounding its signings of Mascherano and Carlos Tevez last year.

The club was accused of breaking Premier League rules, which forbid ownership of players by a third party. The players' contracts are purportedly owned by the Media Sports Investment Company.

West Ham has announced it will strongly contest the charges, and if the club is found guilty, it would be heavily fined or suffer possible points deduction.

The latest controversy will detract from the club's 2-1 victory over English Blackburn, which let the club survive in the Premier League.

"All documents relating to the Mascherano and Tevez transfers have now been submitted to the Premier League to assist with their on-going inquiry," a club spokesman told the News of the World.

"That includes the so-called third party agreements and all payments relating to them, which were passed on by the club's new owners in January."

Mascherano, 22, was registered as a player by English Liverpool in February, and the Premier League is satisfied that the deal did not breach any rules.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.