McCABE BLASTS PREMIER LEAGUE
By Liz Byrnes, PA Sport
Sheffield United plc chairman Kevin McCabe has launched a scathing attack on Premier League officials as the Carlos Tevez saga rumbles on.
Earlier this week United lost their legal challenge against the Premier League after an arbitration panel dismissed their claim for a new disciplinary commission to look at West Ham's punishment for breaching league rules on third-party agreements regarding Argentinians Tevez and Javier Mascherano, who is now at Liverpool.
Although the panel rejected the Blades' claim they admitted the east London club should have been docked points and, while Sheffield United could ask for £50million compensation if they are successful in a High Court bid next week, McCabe has gone on the offensive against the Premier League's officials.
"They seem to be hiding and have no sense of shame. There has been a loss of integrity in our national game," he said.
"The board of the Premier League should stand up and be counted. There is something wrong in our sporting society if they can't sort out a very clear sporting injustice.
"West Ham have got away with it. The Premier League sit there making statements as if they are in the right when they have actually made a mess of it.
"You'd have thought the men responsible for creating this saga would hold their hands up.
"If I'd been in the shoes of Sir Dave Richards (chairman) or Richard Scudamore (chief executive) I'd accept that I'd got it wrong and ask how I could make up for that.
"But that doesn't seem to be in their minds. They just hide behind the wall of the legal system rather than accept a duty of care.
"The responsibility for this whole affair rests with the board of the Premier League, not Sheffield United."
Tevez's potential move to Manchester United has reached an impasse with West Ham insisting he is under contract at Upton Park for the next three years although his agent Kia Joorabchian claimed he had been given permission to hold discussions with other clubs.
The Premier League are monitoring the situation and the Blades will await the outcome with keen interest.
However, McCabe does not disguise his belief that Joorabchian still owns the Argentinian.
"It's as clear as the nose on one's face that his company do own the rights to Tevez," he told the Sheffield Telegraph.
"Monies from his fee won't be going to West Ham but to those who hold the rights."
