Wigan chairman slams Premier League over Tevez affair
Wed 04 Jul, 11:29 AM
Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan has called on the Premier League's chief executive Richard Scudamore and chairman Dave Richards to consider their positions over their handling of the Carlos Tevez affair.
Sheffield United lost their arbitration appeal on Tuesday against a Premier League panel's decision to only fine West Ham United for breaking transfer rules when they signed Tevez and fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano in August.
Whelan, who backed the Blades' view that West Ham should have been docked points, told the Daily Mail on Wednesday: "It's been a botched affair.
"All kinds of things have been done incorrectly and... so much time has been wasted getting to this point."
The ownership irregularity in the Argentines' contract emerged in January.
"Why, when they (the Premier League) knew about this shortly after Christmas, did it take until the end of April to have the original hearing?" Whelan said.
"And why is it only now, in July, that we have reached this stage? I'm sure nothing can now be done for Sheffield United and that is very sad. It just isn't right."
Whelan highlighted a part of the arbitration's full statement that it "would in all probability have reached a different conclusion and deducted points from West Ham" had it been hearing the original case.
"What the arbitration panel are saying backs up everything Wigan, Sheffield United, Fulham, Charlton and Middlesbrough have been saying all along," Whelan said.
"And if the arbitration panel think it's wrong, then Richard Scudamore and Dave Richards have seriously got to consider their positions."
Tuesday's decision was welcomed by the Premier League and West Ham, while Sheffield United said it would discuss the verdict with its advisers.
Tevez scored seven goals in the final 10 games of the season to help West Ham avoid relegation, while Mascherano joined fellow Premier League side Liverpool on loan and made his debut for the Merseysiders in February.
