Blades ready to step up Tevez fight
Updated on 13 June 2007
Sheffield United could take their protest over West Ham United's escape from a points deduction for fielding ineligible duo Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to the European Commission.
Blades plc chairman Kevin McCabe says his club could seek compensation if an independent arbitration panel rejects their bid to overturn their relegation from the Premier League.
United fans, led by actor Sean Bean, are trying to drum up Government support at Westminster ahead of the arbitration panel convening on Monday.
McCabe is certain the panel will back his club's argument and if it does not he has revealed United will accept their relegation but would still pursue a claim for financial compensation.
The Sheffield United chief said: "The reality is that there was an injustice committed and as a result Sheffield United were relegated from the Premiership in the season that's just finished.
"The reason is simple; one club breached the rules, were permitted to play two Argentinians until January and one thereafter."
He continued: "The commission did say very clearly when they opined that normally points should be deducted but because it was the end of April and not January, would reconsider and maybe just fine West Ham.
"The committee got it wrong. The arbitration will get it right come Monday. If the arbitration were to go against us on Monday we recognise that we are relegated to the Championship."
McCabe added: "I wouldn't say that's the end of the issue. We have on Friday a trip to Brussels to meet the European Commissioner for culture and sport, Jan Figel, so we are making our presentation there this week. But I don't believe the arbitration will go against us at all.
"We'll go to the European Commission for them to opine. We believe we have maybe got a human rights issue because of the loss of jobs that has been established if we are relegated, the salaries that are reduced because of going from the Premiership to the Championship and those sort of issues."
When asked about the purpose of going to Brussels, McCabe said: "I suppose compensation. I've no idea how much. The real key is the arbitration, to right the wrong of the injustice that was caused by the first decision. We didn't field ineligible players."
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