West Ham escape points loss
Updated on 27 April 2007
West Ham United were handed a £5.5m fine by the Premier league this afternoon for breaching player ownership rules - but escaped a points deduction that would have almost certainly sealed relegation.
The breach concerned the transfer of two Argentinian players - Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano - who were joined West Ham from Brazilian club Corinthians last summer.
At issue was the third-party ownership of the two players and also the club's failure to disclose details of the deals.
The Premier League said in March their Board believed the transfers breached a rule that no club should enter into a contract enabling another party to influence its policies or performances.
The fine is the biggest in British football history. Tottenham were charged £1.5m for financial irregularities in 1994.
The club, which is battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League, will be relieved to have avoided a points sanction. They currently have 32 points from 35 matches and play in a critical relegation battle at Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
In a statement on the official website, the club said: "The threat of a points deduction has now been removed and the club's fate remains in its own hands. The club believes that promotion and relegation issues should be decided on the pitch and we are pleased that the commission agree with that view.
"The club will reflect on the financial penalty that has been imposed and will take advice before commenting on the possibility of an appeal or any further steps that might be taken."
