West Ham reject Tevez request

July 12, 2007

Tevez in action against Mexico

CARLOS Tevez's move to Manchester United remains in limbo after West Ham rejected a written request by the Argentina striker to cancel his playing contract.

The club and the Premier League have also rejected a separate bid by the 23-year-old 's representatives to have his registration cancelled.

The latest developments mean the dispute is headed towards the Football Association and FIFA - and possibly into the law courts as well.

Two letters, one from Tevez and one from his representatives, arrived with West Ham yesterday in an attempt to kick-start his transfer to Manchester United by doing the same type of deal that took Javier Mascherano to Liverpool.

In order to do so, the Hammers would have to agree to cancel his registration but it is understood both the club and the Premier League have refused to do so.

West Ham pointed to last Friday's statement by chairman Eggert Magnusson saying: "Carlos Tevez is a registered West Ham player, contracted to the club until June 2010. There is no agreement with West Ham for Carlos Tevez to leave the club."

The Hammers are aware that if they do anything contrary to the Premier League's instructions they could be left open to further disciplinary action over third-party agreements.

FIFA say they may be prepared to step in to settle the transfer dispute - but they have yet to receive any official request to do so.

Football's world governing body can become involved if there is an international element to a transfer or if they are asked by the FA.

Tevez's move to United has stalled due to the Premier League's insistence that West Ham must receive the bulk of the reported £30m fee.

Tevez's representative, businessman Kia Joorabchian, says he owns the player's economic rights.

A FIFA spokesman said: "We have not received any official request from any of the parties involved so far.

"If we do receive a request we would then decide whether we have to look at it or if it is up to the FA to rule on it.

"The FA could also ask us for guidance and send us all the relevant information."

Manchester United have agreed terms with Tevez and Joorabchian and hoped to have everything tied up last week - but the deal has now reached an impasse.

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Hilton (12/07/2007 at 10:07)

Lets all sum this up in a few words. Corrupt PL/WHU are in trouble!

Davey Boy, Kuwait (12/07/2007 at 10:13)

Seems simple to me really PL and WHU should get their act together and allow this deal to be completed, as there is no way he can or will want to play for them again, lodge any monies or commitments to pay or whatever with an independant arbitrator until such time as it is resolved once the representatives and lawyers have sorted out all the nitty gritty in what ever time it takes and doesn't distract players and clubs from the business in hand...!
We all know that WHU should have been docked points but there is now way they will be replaced by Sheff Utd so please lets do the simple and right thing so we can all move on and play some football! I fully expect sanity to be restored and Tevez becomes a red by the end of next week!

ALFIE (12/07/2007 at 10:33)

Bingo hilton the premier league and whu are in deep,and i hope they suffer big time.
This iranian guy has the documentation to say i have copys and this stinks to high heaven,if i were him id sue both,get fifa in and get this embarrasing pantomine finalised.
Westham should be relegated,if not sheff utd well compenasted and the premier league fined (record) by fifa.

Mick, Dublin (12/07/2007 at 10:41)

Yawn. This is gonna drag on and on and on and on and on and on and ariston, isn't it?

The only real bit of "news" today is that the original contract that Joorabchain put in place with WHU (the one the hammers ripped up in April) may not have been legally binding (something about a restraint of trade). Which complicates things massively (like they're not complicated anough already!)

But even if that contract was NEVER legally binding, surely the economic rights for Tevez remain where they were before he ever came to England? (i.e with MSI)

The only other bit of news is that SU are on the war-path big-time and are talking about "fresh evidence" they now have to hand (supplied to them by MSI?) which they will bring to the High Court tomorrow.

West Ham and the Premier League are for the high-jump, mark my words. But I've got a horrible feeling that the lawyers are sharpening their knives and getting ready for a protracted battle. Which is also bad news for United and Tevez.

JonyB-), North Staffs (12/07/2007 at 10:52)

Davey Boy, Kuwait, I wish it was only that simple. You speak common sense, but you forget we are dealing with greedy incompetents who are protecting their backs by any means necessary. They'd be prepared to drag the whole of footballs reputation thru the quagmire to protect tthemselves & if they can shaft UTD in the process.... Bonus!! Expect this to drag on right till the end of trnsfer deadline, unfortunately......

edinburgh red, edinburgh (12/07/2007 at 11:07)

It all seems a bit dodgy like a proper eastenders plot, shouldn't they now be investigating macherano's move to liverpool as well then? if he can move no problem why can tevez not, this could run as long as the OH saga.

george (12/07/2007 at 11:21)

It makes you feel WHU have something to hide.

Runar Green (12/07/2007 at 11:35)

As I can see this can have a simple solution; To avoid relegetation West Ham have to get most of the fee says PL. West Ham sells him to United for "nothing" and keep the money. United and and this dude who ownes tevez makes a kind of contract where united will pay him for "discovering the talent, or somthing, the laywers will know how to formulate this). The money United pay will be the same. In nothing dodgy in West Ham selling a player too cheap, it not against the law too bee stupid. Remeber Leeds who sold us Cantona for 1 mill....

Louis Edwards Turkey Twizlers, Macclesfield (12/07/2007 at 11:44)

"Good old WHU"

We dont want him anyway, keep your baggage in London, he will only cost us money and heartache, and probably a few mid season sulks.

seasider, blackpool (12/07/2007 at 12:02)

The Express reckons a source close to the deal "expects it to be resolved soon". A mutual desire to avoid a court case would seem to offer the best chance of a quick resolution.

Oni Andoko - Jakarta, Indonesia (12/07/2007 at 12:04)

I do think WHU & PL covering up something stinky & rotten by refused Kia J. & C. Tevez request to move to United..

Why MU's sport lawyer should waste so many time before explode it up in front of FIFA?...

Call the intervention of Michel Platini immediately.

I hate to see the greedy conspiration of Eggert M & the PL body for days in ESPN & Eurosport news...
What the heck are they doing there? Does anyone smell the bad odour of them as me? Come'on United, bang the FIFA door immediately.

Birdy, Ireland (12/07/2007 at 12:15)

It really does beggar belief how the Premier League think that the contract for the players could be simply ripped up and West Ham could take ownership of them. It must be like One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest in the Premier League offices. Imagine having to try to justify that stance! I think Utd should just refer this case to the FA and FIFA as soon as possible because it shouldnt take them long to see through the madness of the situation the Premier League have created. Its so ridiculous its actually funny. Wouldnt you just love to be a journalist interviewing Scudamore.

Patrick McLOUGHLIN, North Carolina, USA (12/07/2007 at 12:34)

again l say the prenier league is responsible for this sordid affair..surely when west ham were fined five million for not complying to league rules the premier league officials had all "the facts"..but now seeing this mess possibly going to fifa and the courts, it appears the league did not complete it`s investigation fully..surely any team tevez wanted to play for would have resulted in this same sordid situation..united must be cool, l am sure they have the best lawyers on this case..wait out the conclusion and eventually sign tevez..west ham united will be the eventual losers when all facts eventually come to light..but again the premier league is totally to blame for not investigating this mess in a more professional manner,surely that is their responsibility not manchester united`s team of lawyers

ps: tevez and heinze looking good in copa cup competition,please keep heinze.

Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (12/07/2007 at 12:49)

Same ***t, different day !!

Daniel (12/07/2007 at 13:00)

Surely the FA have set a precedent in the structure the Tevez deal should take when they allowed Mascherano to move to the bin dippers. I am confident this will move forward but there's hoops a plenty to jump through first. He is well worth the effort, pure class and we'll finally have someone who can threaten with free kicks around the box.

dboy, eire (12/07/2007 at 13:00)

I smell a RAT. A dirty one at that! The PL has taken the old adage... covering one's back... to a whole new and bizarre level!

Mark my words WHU & PL will come out of this unscathed and the only losers will be UTD & Tevez.

What should happen is the decision makers at PL should go for two reasons:
1. Shown favouritism and covered up on behalf on WHU to safe the own behinds when they realised their error.
2. Parry, Liverpool CE, still holds power at the PL hence the ability to push the same loan deal of Mascherano through the PL -One rule for Liverpool and a different one for the rest.

FIFA should intervene by forcing the FA to sanction the PL, allow Tevez to resume his career at whatever club he chooses and introduce new laws forbidding private ownership of players thus ridding the game of MSI and Pini Zahivi.

Ban the American definition/usage of the term "football"

JonyB-), North Staffs (12/07/2007 at 13:09)

One Bonus in this prolonged Tevez activity is that we're much more likely to be keeping Rossi (although i thought we would anyway!)....

Steve, Glossop (12/07/2007 at 13:22)

Those bubbles they're blowing are full of marsh gas. WHU everyones 2nd club my backside. I cant believe Gill & Watkins weren't 100% sure of getting Tevez before getting involved in all this.

Roy (12/07/2007 at 13:23)

If reports are true, Tevez has already pledged his future to Fergie. And based on his last two performances, Im comvinced more than ever that this guy will become a Man U legend. Berbatov has guile but lacks Tevez's strength. Yet from what Ive seen, Tevez is no less creative. One other point, it's interesting how the latest press stories mention how the PL will punish West Ham with dropped points THIS season if they don't play along and get the transfer fee directly. Bolting the door and fleeing horses come to mind. Tevez's transfer is doing to the PL's reputation what Tevez himself will do to many a defence.

Birdy, Ireland (12/07/2007 at 13:35)

JonyB youre right there, that is, other than the Premier League hopefully getting hauled over the coals for their disgraceful weaseling when dealing with West Ham initially, the only good thing to come from this mess

JonyB-), North Staffs (12/07/2007 at 14:10)

Birdy, i think that they'll make sure that they come out clean (PL that is!). Tipical city slimmy slickers, but bet they Hang out WHU to dry. Good i say - can't stand that east-end,'arn't we jolly hard done by' cockney crap!!!!

red john (12/07/2007 at 14:21)

isnt it time then he lived up to his threat; and dished the dirt on west ham and got them relegate...which in truth is what should happened in the first place. Fact is as a coach at youth tem leagues the punishment is simple playing unregistered players is a crime punished by point docking end of story!!

edinburgh red, edinburgh (12/07/2007 at 14:43)

IF ONLY WE HAD DONE OUR JOBS LAST GAME OF THE SEASON AND PUT THEM DOWN OURSELVES, WE COULD HAVE GOT TEVEZ A LOT EASIER

Thomas, Norway (12/07/2007 at 14:43)

this issue should be sorted out imidiatly. Im surprised how this is dragging out. Meanwhile, I do not like Heinze speaking out in public about how proud he is be linked with Liverpool. You simply do not speak that way when you are at Manchester United. Maby its time for him to go, alongside a couple of other players such as Kieran and Smith. I would have liked to replaced Heinze with someone British. Baines is an outstanding player.

JonyB-), North Staffs (12/07/2007 at 15:00)

Thomas, Norway, to be fair he mentioned liverpool within a group of teams including Juventus, Barcelona & R.Madrid, rather than soley 'pool as being slyly reported. But i no wot you mean - It Really does grate & hopefully he'll have enough about him to realise the insult he'd show the UTD fans if he did move there, and he's always seemed an honest player!

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