No points reduction, just a 5.5 million fine
Got off easy if you ask me, They'll take the fine i guess. Still think and hope they get the drop
BBC
Got off easy if you ask me, They'll take the fine i guess. Still think and hope they get the drop
BBC
West Ham have been fined £5.5m after being found guilty over charges relating to 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.
Representatives from the club, including chairman Eggert Magnusson, and from the Premier League attended a hearing in London on Thursday.
They were accused of acted improperly and withholding vital documentation.
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. "
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."
Tevez and Mascherano were part-owned by Media Sports Investment, the company formerly run by Iranian-born businessman Kia Joorabchian.
The Premier League charges, issued on 3 February, read: "It is the board's complaint that there were agreements in relation to both these transfers that enabled third parties to acquire the ability materially to influence the club's policies and/or the performance of its teams.
"Furthermore at the time of the transfer agreements for both Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, and until 24 January 2007, West Ham failed to disclose the third-party agreements to the Premier League and/or deliberately withheld these agreements from the Premier League."
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.
But the Hammers have avoided a points deduction which could have ended their hopes of staying in the Premeirship.
Representatives from the club, including chairman Eggert Magnusson, and from the Premier League attended a hearing in London on Thursday.
They were accused of acted improperly and withholding vital documentation.
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. "
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."
Tevez and Mascherano were part-owned by Media Sports Investment, the company formerly run by Iranian-born businessman Kia Joorabchian.
The Premier League charges, issued on 3 February, read: "It is the board's complaint that there were agreements in relation to both these transfers that enabled third parties to acquire the ability materially to influence the club's policies and/or the performance of its teams.
"Furthermore at the time of the transfer agreements for both Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, and until 24 January 2007, West Ham failed to disclose the third-party agreements to the Premier League and/or deliberately withheld these agreements from the Premier League."
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.
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