Sheffield United decision expected at the end of June

The wait will seem long for English Sheffield United, as the club has finished off the appeals process in an effort to stay in the Premier League and awaits the panel's decision.

The panel has deferred an outcome, stretching an already long affair until possibly the end of the month. That could work against Sheffield United, which now is being investigated for the same rules breach that tripped West Ham.

The club appealed the decision to hit West Ham with only a hefty fine, and not a points penalty, for its violations in the transfers of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. That decision allowed West Ham to stay up in the Premier League and cost Sheffield United a spot.

That delay won't only be long for the club, but the Premier League as well. The league has tried to release its fixtures for next season as if West Ham is in the league, and Sheffield United has been relegated.

If the decision does come after a couple of weeks, that would leave the league only six weeks before the new season to convene a tribunal to re-assess the West Ham penalty.

"It's been a very complicated case, and the panel are going away to review the evidence and submissions," said Sheffield United chairman, Kevin McCabe. "We have been told to expect a decision by the end of the month, hopefully sooner."

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore did not comment.

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