CARLOS Tevez's representative Kia Joorabchian is taking his fight with West Ham to the High Court.
A writ was served this afternoon on the club's solicitors by lawyers acting on behalf of Joorabchian's companies MSI and Just Sports Inc.
Joorabchian has called for the court to intervene to enable Argentinian striker Tevez, 23, to play for Manchester United.
Joorabchian has decided to take this course of action despite FIFA recommending the dispute be settled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Statement
Solicitor Graham Shear of lawyers Teacher Stern Selby said in a statement: “I can confirm the companies (MSI and Just Sports Inc) have today begun High Court proceedings against West Ham.
“This afternoon a High Court writ was served on the football club’s solicitors.
“The companies seek the court’s intervention to compel West Ham to release the registration of Carlos Tevez in accordance with contracts entered into between the parties.
“We are asking the court to intervene so that Carlos Tevez (pictured) can be registered to play with Manchester United as soon as possible.”
Shear added: “We will be making no further statement at this time.”
Tevez is registered as West Ham’s player but Joorabchian claims he owns the player’s economic rights and is therefore entitled to any transfer fee, which is at odds with the Premier League’s stance.
The League want West Ham to receive any fee for Tevez.
Verdict
When the independent inquiry reached their verdict on Tevez three games before the end of the season, the league offered West Ham three alternatives - amending the third party agreement, letting the player leave with immediate effect or unilaterally ripping up the third party agreement.
West Ham chose the latter option which effectively allowed Tevez to play the remainder of campaign but also came with a stern warning from the league.
The Hammers were told their ’ownership’ of Tevez would be monitored and under no circumstances would the Hammers be allowed to extricate themselves from the situation once the season reached the conclusion.
Chief executive Richard Scudamore said: “The options were sound. They chose the option they chose.
“It has made life difficult for them, and, in a way, us, by choosing the option they did.
“But that is the option they chose. They could have gone a different way.
“For eight months now, we have been trying to resolve this issue as well as keeping the rule book intact. It is quite difficult.”
FIFA came to their decision about CAS ruling on the dispute following a high level meeting with FA and Premier League officials in Zurich yesterday.
In a statement a Premier League spokesman said: “The Premier League and FA are grateful to FIFA for considering this issue. We are supportive of the recommendation that if all parties are in agreement the matter should be referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Xs, Mauritius (24/07/2007 at 19:22)
Liston, Harare (24/07/2007 at 19:48)
Colin Chua (24/07/2007 at 19:56)
Red Dawn (24/07/2007 at 20:33)
I'm glad MSI and JSI are getting tough. It has dragged on for too long, and that is exactly what West Ham wanted.
What the High Court will concentrate on is whether the contract was invalid and if West Ham had any right to tear it up.
If the contract is deemed invalid, then you'd imagine West Ham would have no further rights to the player, and his registration would have to be released.
If it's deemed Valid, then West Ham are in breach of contract.
Either way MSI and JSI are going to win here and Tevez will join United.
West Ham just simply cannot keep or expect a fee for a player they paid nothing for.
Maybe West Ham would be best to just give it up now, and face the consequences.
A Mancunian, Manchester (24/07/2007 at 20:53)
Sunnysolskjear, London (24/07/2007 at 21:01)
Are you listening Mr. Gill?:
Wouldn't it be possible for United to agree the same deal with the Hammers as with MSI, and just transfer the money to an account that the winner of the process eventually would get access to?
The result being that little Tevez could come over immediately?
Or is that little Icelandic Eggert actually thinking that Tevez is going to stay?
Surely not!
checks, africa (24/07/2007 at 21:03)
Michael, France (24/07/2007 at 21:36)
soonaiko (25/07/2007 at 04:49)
Birdy, Ireland (25/07/2007 at 09:09)
Anyway, regardless of the stupidity of the Prem league, i just hope that between the High Court and the CAS this think can be resolved quickly. It seems to me that it should be very straightforward but as Gill said its been made very complicated
Hilton (25/07/2007 at 09:23)
I cannot see the high court or any British court ruling in favour of MSI either because 3rd party ownership of players is frowned at in this country.
We best move on from this now.............sadly!
I bet Mr. Gill is not so confident now.
Fredrik, Sweden (25/07/2007 at 09:47)
¿The options were sound. They chose the option they chose.
¿It has made life difficult for them, and, in a way, us, by choosing the option they did.
¿But that is the option they chose. They could have gone a different way.
¿For eight months now, we have been trying to resolve this issue as well as keeping the rule book intact. It is quite difficult.¿
Fredrik, Sweden (25/07/2007 at 09:49)
arthurdawkins (25/07/2007 at 09:58)
good player but where is that
20 plus great Striker they have been crying out for for
yonks. And do they need..What
a sickner if Torres ect ect..
Starts banging em in..Oh Dear
Regards THAIART.....
bobbydazzler (25/07/2007 at 10:06)
Demo, Glossop (25/07/2007 at 10:10)
at least the courts will make an independant decision no matter if it condemns the PL and WHU
Robbo, North Stand (25/07/2007 at 10:29)
John Broughton (25/07/2007 at 11:07)
Red Dawn (25/07/2007 at 11:15)
I know The High Court, and or any Court in England for that matter won't like the idea of third party ownership, but the case will have to be heard from a neutral perspective, and justice will have to be done.
The High Court simply cannot rule in West Hams favour just because they are against the idea of third party ownership.
It would make a mockery of the British Justice system if Bias came into play, and all other cases would be shrowded with curiosity.
This has to be a case of straight down the middle...who is right, who is wrong.
pete (25/07/2007 at 11:24)
As a result the ostriches of West Ham and the league have had their heads forcefully pulled up and are now left squirming in the sun. And what does Scudamore say whilst squirming "We've made mistakes but now it's TIME TO MOVE ON". The West Ham chairman has lately published four statements and on two occasions has similarly talked about MOVING ON.
Have you noticed how often squirming politicians use that same phrase?
Mind boggling stupidity - but complicated? NO!
Vamanos Carlito "El Apache" Tevez.
Demo, Glossop (25/07/2007 at 11:31)
Birdy, Ireland (25/07/2007 at 11:46)
wazza10 (25/07/2007 at 11:57)
CBU (25/07/2007 at 12:12)
RANDYRED (25/07/2007 at 12:29)
Its like in criminal cases the evidence is looked at and points out the offender bang to rights,and with the maschenero case that will be evidence too boot.