ouch 5.5 m fine

[Jack]

West Ham have been hit with a huge fine by the Premier League following the hearing into the transfers of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, but have escaped a points deduction.

The Premier League opted to look into last summer's transfer of the duo after doubts emerged over the ownership of the pair.

West Ham had been accused of acting improperly and withholding vital documentation regarding the transfer and faced a possible points deduction if they were found guilty of wrongdoing.

A guilty verdict was returned, but the Premier League panel comprising of Simon Bourne-Arton QC, Lord Herman Ouseley and David Dent opted to mete out a financial sanction.

The panel opted to hand down a £5.5million fine, but have escaped a points deduction and can now focus on their battle to avoid relegation from the Premiership.

[Aussie Bee]

Surprised at the size of the fine - but taking points would have been pointless (no pun intended lol) as they are virtually down anyway and it would have been seen as doing the likes of Sheffield Utd a favour.

The management of west ham must have been crazy to think they could have gotten away with it really

[Jack]

a lot of talk about this and some people are saying the fine was going to be 9 m but only because they pleaded guilty it was cut too 5.5m

[Aussie Bee]

Good point from the guardians fiver...

Crucially, however, they escaped a points deduction, which means they may still keep their lucrative place in the Premiership. And if they do survive, a club that didn't knowingly smuggle two internationals into the league will have to be demoted instead. Justice? Well, it is according to West Ham. "Promotion and relegation should be decided on the pitch", a club suit staggered, neglecting to add: "unless the pitch is full of players who've no right to be there".

True, today's hearing also decreed that Tevez can't play again for West Ham until a legitimate arrangement is made but that doesn't address the reality that the Hammers would surely already be down if the Argentinian goleador hadn't been excelling for them recently, weighing in with four goals, two assists and more energy and enthusiasm than the rest of the claret-and-blue-clad slackers put together. If they survive, his contribution will have been decisive. And bearing in mind that the new TV deal means that a place in next season's top flight is worth at least £30m, which is, by the Fiver's admittedly crude reckoning, a hell of a lot more than £5.5m, it's tempting to conclude that Gangsta' Fiver was right all along: crime pays.

[podsufc]

Originally Posted by Aussie Bee

Surprised at the size of the fine - but taking points would have been pointless (no pun intended lol) as they are virtually down anyway and it would have been seen as doing the likes of Sheffield Utd a favour.

The management of west ham must have been crazy to think they could have gotten away with it really

really, virtually down

[podsufc]

Originally Posted by podsufc

really, virtually down

see

[Aussie Bee]

Sue the football league and use other "precedents" as examples!

Disgraceful state of affairs - West Ham Cheated - end of story - regulate them

I don't think this story is over yet by a long way