http://www.mysporttoday.co.uk/ViewA...de=sheffuntd&SectionID=4853&ArticleID=3061514
Blades waiting game as reality bites
SHEFFIELD UNITED are eagerly awaiting the outcome of Kia Joorabchian's legal war with the Premier League.
Joorabchian, who has held a series of meetings with officials from Bramall Lane in recent weeks, was today expected to reveal details of the writ he has served on the FA Premier League in an attempt to force through Carlos Tevez’s protracted transfer from West Ham to Manchester United.
Bryan Robson’s side are also in dispute with the FAPL after claiming that Tevez, who played a crucial role in saving West Ham from relegation last season, was illegally registered during the final three games which, as a result, handed the Londoners an unfair advantage in the battle to avoid relegation.
Should Joorabchian, who insists he still owns Tevez, win his case in the High Court then it would blow apart the FAPL’s argument that the Argentine’s paperwork is in order and represent a green light for United to make a fresh claim for compensation, if not reinstatement.
Joorabchian’s decision means that the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who had been asked by FIFA to rule on the issue, may now withdraw from the process.
CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb said: "Once civil proceedings are under way, we would no longer consider arbitrating in the matter."
FAPL chief executive Richard Scudamore’s claim that a growing number of foreign owners has brought a new professionalism to the competition will, therefore, have raised eyebrows among the South Yorkshire club’s support given the fact that West Ham are owned by an Icelandic consortium.
With nine of England's 20 top-flight teams effectively controlled by overseas investors, Scudamore said: "I am sure there are people who wish every player was English and every owner was a local businessman made good who supported the club as a boy.
"Clearly that is not where we are at and we cannot go back there.
"It is not about who the owners are. It is about how they perform and how they behave.
"Our experience suggests the new owners bring a level of professionalism to the situation. They bring new things to the game and I don't see any evidence that they have ripped up the old traditions or that they are riding roughshod over the rulebook."
Blades waiting game as reality bites
SHEFFIELD UNITED are eagerly awaiting the outcome of Kia Joorabchian's legal war with the Premier League.
Joorabchian, who has held a series of meetings with officials from Bramall Lane in recent weeks, was today expected to reveal details of the writ he has served on the FA Premier League in an attempt to force through Carlos Tevez’s protracted transfer from West Ham to Manchester United.
Bryan Robson’s side are also in dispute with the FAPL after claiming that Tevez, who played a crucial role in saving West Ham from relegation last season, was illegally registered during the final three games which, as a result, handed the Londoners an unfair advantage in the battle to avoid relegation.
Should Joorabchian, who insists he still owns Tevez, win his case in the High Court then it would blow apart the FAPL’s argument that the Argentine’s paperwork is in order and represent a green light for United to make a fresh claim for compensation, if not reinstatement.
Joorabchian’s decision means that the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who had been asked by FIFA to rule on the issue, may now withdraw from the process.
CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb said: "Once civil proceedings are under way, we would no longer consider arbitrating in the matter."
FAPL chief executive Richard Scudamore’s claim that a growing number of foreign owners has brought a new professionalism to the competition will, therefore, have raised eyebrows among the South Yorkshire club’s support given the fact that West Ham are owned by an Icelandic consortium.
With nine of England's 20 top-flight teams effectively controlled by overseas investors, Scudamore said: "I am sure there are people who wish every player was English and every owner was a local businessman made good who supported the club as a boy.
"Clearly that is not where we are at and we cannot go back there.
"It is not about who the owners are. It is about how they perform and how they behave.
"Our experience suggests the new owners bring a level of professionalism to the situation. They bring new things to the game and I don't see any evidence that they have ripped up the old traditions or that they are riding roughshod over the rulebook."
