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Last Updated: Tuesday, 19 June 2007, 15:45 GMT 16:45 UK
Blades must wait on appeal ruling
West Ham striker Carlos Tevez is at the centre of the controversy
Tevez is at the centre of the Sheffield United-West Ham saga
Sheffield United have been told they must wait to hear if their appeal against relegation from the Premier League has been successful.

Blades plc chairman Kevin McCabe says the arbitration panel hearing their challenge will deliver a verdict "by the end of the month, maybe sooner".

United want to be reinstated after West Ham breached player ownership rules.

West Ham said in a statment that there was no threat to their top-flight status from the hearing.

The Hammers avoided a points deduction over the signing of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano but were fined �5.5m.

"West Ham United are and remain a Premiership football club," said the Hammers in a statement.

"There is no scope for this to be changed by the Premier League's arbitration panel and West Ham's status cannot be called into question in relation to next season.

"West Ham were not and are not a party to the arbitration and our standing as a Premier League club is not in doubt as a result of the panel's hearing."

The Blades want the panel to order a fresh disciplinary hearing against West Ham.

The independent arbitration panel can order a new hearing or rule that some compensation be paid to Sheffield United.

I think the Premier League accept they wish the arbitration was not happening

Sheffield United plc chairman Kevin McCabe

The three-man panel's main role was to see whether the correct disciplinary procedures were followed.

Retired High Court judge Sir Philip Otton chaired the hearing in Fleet Street, with David Pannick QC representing the Blades and leading barrister Nicholas Randall acting for the Premier League.

After the panel finished hearing the challenge, McCabe said: "It's been a very complicated case, and the panel are going away to review the evidence and submissions.

"All three parties had the opportunity to present their cases clearly to the panel and we look forward to the handing-down of the decision of the panel in due course.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further until a decision has been made."

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry appeared at the arbitration tribunal on Monday.

He first drew attention to the rule breaches when Liverpool signed Mascherano from West Ham in the January transfer window.

Questioned as to whether Parry's appearance as a witness was because of Liverpool's signing of Javier Mascherano from West Ham, McCabe added: "Not particularly. Rick is an experienced football guy. He's a good witness."

McCabe also appeared as a witness, with Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore and general secretary Mike Foster appearing for the other side.

McCabe has always been adamant the panel will rule in favour of his club over a saga that started back in March.

In that month, West Ham were found guilty by an independent committee set up by the Premier League of acting improperly and withholding vital documentation over the Argentine pair's ownership but they escaped a points deduction and Tevez was allowed to continue playing.

606: DEBATE

He and Mascherano were part-owned by a third party but the Hammers then ended that agreement, which satisfied the Premier League.

Tevez was one of the major factors in the club's late escape - scoring a goal on the final day of last season at Manchester United to help the Hammers stay up.

The Blades finished on the same number of points as fourth-from-bottom Wigan but were relegated on goal difference.

"I think the Premier League accept they wish the arbitration was not happening," McCabe said last week.

"But in the knowledge it is happening and it cannot be prevented, then if the decision is overturned we should be reselected to the Premier League.

"Since we really looked into the whys and the wherefores of the Tevez affair it became apparent that a wrong decision was made."

SEE ALSO
Premier League probes Kabba deal
19 Jun 07 |  Premier League
Premier League v Sheffield Utd
17 Jun 07 |  Premier League
Warnock targets another challenge
17 Jun 07 |  Football
Kazim-Richards goes to Fenerbahce
15 Jun 07 |  Sheff Utd
Blades will take fight to Europe
13 Jun 07 |  Sheff Utd
Tribunal to rule on Tevez affair
22 May 07 |  Sheff Utd
Sean Bean leads football protest
13 Jun 07 |  South Yorkshire
Blades confident of reinstatement
03 Jun 07 |  Sheff Utd
Lamb baffled at Hammers ruling
09 May 07 |  Middlesbrough
West Ham not to appeal over fine
09 May 07 |  West Ham Utd
West Ham sign Tevez & Mascherano
31 Aug 06 |  West Ham Utd


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