West Ham handed record £5.5m fine

Dmac

West Ham handed record £5.5m fine



West Ham have been fined £5.5m after being found guilty over the transfers of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

But the Hammers have avoided a points deduction which could have ended their hopes of staying in the Premeirship.

The club was found guilty of acting improperly and withholding vital documentation over the duo's ownership.

Among the reasons for the decision not to deduct points was because of a guilty plea and the club is under new management and ownership.

The hearing report also said that the Premier League could terminate Tevez's registration, and if West Ham want to play him they will have to re-sign him.

Tevez and Mascherano, who has since joined Liverpool, were part-owned by Media Sports Investment, the company formerly run by Iranian-born businessman Kia Joorabchian.

The transfers were negotiated by former chairman Terence Brown and managing director Paul Aldridge, both of whom have left since the takeover by current chairman Eggert Magnusson.

Magnusson has already indicated he would never have agreed to the terms of the deal negotiated by Brown and Aldridge and the new regime will consider legal action if the judgement goes against West Ham.

Representatives from the club, including Magnusson, and from the Premier League attended the two-day hearing in London.

West Ham are three points from safety heading into a vital game with fellow strugglers Wigan at the JJB Stadium on Saturday.

Latics' chairman Dave Whelan led calls for West Ham to be investigated, and manager Alan Curbishley: "Wigan have voiced their opinion, and if the boot was on the other foot I'm sure we would have done the same."

The fine is the biggest in English football, dwarfing the old record of £1.5m imposed on Tottenham in 1994 for financial irregularities.

A West Ham statement read: "West Ham received a fair hearing. The club's submission that the contracts gave no actual influence to any third party was accepted by the commission.

"The club regrets the fact that they fell foul of the FA Premier League regulations, but the new owners of the club now want to focus on matters on the pitch and remaining in the Premier League. The threat of a points deduction has now been removed and the club's fate remains in its own hands.

"The club believes that promotion and relegation issues should be decided on the pitch and we are pleased that the commission agree with that view.

"The club will reflect on the financial penalty that has been imposed and will take advice before commenting on the possibility of an appeal or any further steps that might be taken."

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor believes West Ham escaped a points deduction because of their predicament at the bottom of the Premiership.

"If West Ham were in a comfortable mid-table position I think there would have been points deducted as a deterrent for the future," Taylor said.

"But I think with a relegation battle blowing up it's fair justice and something West Ham will be relieved about - particularly if they stay up.

"Fans of other clubs may not be happy with the verdict but if you need to stay in a division because another club has been deducted points it's not the sporting ethos you would want."

Credit - BBC Sport

It is a bit of a sigh of relief for the Hammers, they have somehow managed to avoid a points deduction. The only thing I can think is that because they are already fighting for survival in the Premiership, the board felt sorry for them and so spared them a little, which may explain why the fine is so outrageously high.

God

Super Moderator

Macherano case has showed double standards for top clubs to other clubs.
Example 1.: WHU get a 5.5m fine and Liverpool who he now plays for dont even got mentioned.

Example 2.: Macherano played for two clubs prior to joining pool, but he is allowed play despite it being against the rules. Cork City sign two players who had played even less then Macherano but yet UEFA wont allow them to play until July 1st.


Also seeing as there were different owners of WHU at the time so i think its a little unfair to fine them this much.

Dmac

Well I will start by saying Liverpool have nothing to do with that deal, they signed him fairly under UEFA conditions who like you said allowed it and second, I think that a player like Mascherano, who by the way has basically personally shut the mouths of the doubters when he was going to Liverpool by being a permanent fixture in the starting line-up as of late, is more important than a player playing in the Irish league. No offence, but you know it is true Daren.

God

Super Moderator

So its more important for a millionaire to make even more money than a 19 year old to make a few hundred euro to support his family?

Dmac

It's more important for a player of Mascherano's stature to play regular in the greatest league in football.

God

Super Moderator

And how are players going to get to that level if they arent allowed play in their home country?

Dmac

By waiting a few months until the damn window is open.

God

Super Moderator

Liverpool didnt have to. Macherano didnt have to. Seriously whats the differance other than the club size?

Crocker

This comment is from an Arsenal fan

God

Super Moderator

Differance being Arsenal dont stop anyone playing. The youth academy is loaded with english players. Their are already two first team english players and several more in the reserves. If they are good enough they will get their shot.

But because of UEFA's biase towards the big name clubs two players now have to sit and watch their teammates play every week. They dont even get the opportunity to play.