Liverpool back Blades at hearing

[Scottish Mag 3]

Liverpool have been revealed as the mystery club backing Sheffield United's fight against the Premier League, reports BBC Radio Sheffield.

A two-day hearing has started to decide if the Blades should be reinstated to the top flight after West Ham breached player ownership rules.

 

They were fined £5.5m but avoided a points penalty over the signing of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

 

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry was called as a witness on Monday.

 

An independent arbitration panel has been set up and is expected to deliver its verdict on Tuesday.

 

If the panel decides to overturn the original decision, Sheffield United will ask the Premier League to reinstate them for next season.

 

If the panel finds in favour of the Blades, the Premier League could relegate West Ham, keep both clubs in the top flight, offer a compensation package or refuse to overturn the decision.

 

Blades plc chairman Kevin McCabe is 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 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.

 

He and Mascherano, who is now at Liverpool, 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 the 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."

 

Presentations by the Blades have also been made to the European Commission.

 

"We expressed our concerns of the whole affair," said club spokesman Andy Pack.

 

"It wasn't a question of trying to enlist support or lobby, rather a chance to inform them of where we are."

[Baggio 0]

I wonder if Benayoun has a relegation release clause?

[khay 10]

I wonder if Benayoun has a relegation release clause?

 

 

 

It's not like they don't have the money.

[Craig 6703]

tbh if I was Sheff United. I'd be distancing myself from Liverpool for the very fact that:

 

1. Javier Mascherano is now a Liverpool player.

2. They're very keen on signing Tevez.

 

They have more than a passing interesting in this - surprised they're getting involved for their own reputation too.

[NJS 4447]

The fallout on Tevez was that despite saying they'd removed the 3rd party ownership, said third party still thought they had a stake (ie the contract was still valid) which I think is why West HAm were "done".

 

On this basis I'd like to know Mascherano's status before transfer to Liverpool.

[tinofbeans 91]

reckon it'd be pretty much the same as tevez's contract?

 

i do.