Well this is sure to help bids for Tevez or Benayoun

[Gilps]

Liverpool back Blades

 

Liverpool have been revealed as the mystery club backing Sheffield United's fight against the Premier League, reports BBC Radio Sheffield.

 

A two-day hearing began on Monday to decide if the Blades should be reinstated to the top flight after West Ham breached player ownership rules.

 

They were fined £5.5m but avoided a points penalty over the signing of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

 

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry was called as a witness.

 

An independent arbitration panel has been set up and is expected to deliver its verdict on Tuesday.

 

If the panel decides to overturn the original decision, Sheffield United will ask the Premier League to reinstate them for next season.

 

If the panel finds in favour of the Blades, the Premier League could relegate West Ham, keep both clubs in the top flight, offer a compensation package or refuse to overturn the decision.

 

Blades plc chairman Kevin McCabe is adamant the panel will rule in favour of his club over a saga that started back in March.

 

In that month, West Ham were found guilty of acting improperly and withholding vital documentation over the Argentine pair's ownership but they escaped a points deduction and Tevez was allowed to continue playing.

 

He and Mascherano, who is now at Liverpool, were part-owned by a third party but the Hammers then ended that agreement, which satisfied the Premier League.

 

Tevez was one of the major factors in the club's late escape - scoring a goal on the final day of the season at Manchester United to help the Hammers stay up.

 

The Blades finished on the same number of points as fourth-from-bottom Wigan but were relegated on goal difference.

 

"I think the Premier League accept they wish the arbitration was not happening," McCabe said last week.

 

"But in the knowledge it is happening and it cannot be prevented, then if the decision is overturned we should be reselected to the Premier League.

 

"Since we really looked into the whys and the wherefores of the Tevez affair it became apparent that a wrong decision was made."

 

Presentations by the Blades have also been made to the European Commission.

 

"We expressed our concerns of the whole affair," said club spokesman Andy Pack.

 

"It wasn't a question of trying to enlist support or lobby, rather a chance to inform them of where we are."

[D.Boon]

Other than offering evidance specific to Mascherano i cant see why we are getting involved

[Kahnee]

"It wasn't a question of trying to enlist support or lobby, rather a chance to inform them of where we are."

 

Could have just sent them a photocopy of a map of England and saved the legal fees

[Falconhoof]

People are jumping to conclusions.

 

Parry has been called as a witness, that was always going to happen since we signed Mascherano.

 

He hasn't unilaterally decided to back Sheff Utd.

[Bailo]

It's a ridiculously tabloid headline. Parry has been called to witness, probably to explain how we've signed Mascherano. It's not like we're secretly funding this Sheff U appeal nor publically backed them.

[johngibo YPC]

It's a ridiculously tabloid headline. Parry has been called to witness, probably to explain how we've signed Mascherano. It's not like we're secretly funding this Sheff U appeal nor publically backed them.

 

Thats what i thought once i'd read it

He had probably seen Masch's original contract as well

[Gilps]

People are jumping to conclusions.

 

It's a ridiculously tabloid headline.

 

Thats what i thought once i'd read it

He had probably seen Masch's original contract as well

 

This is summertime, dammit. This calls for mass hysteria, not common sense.

[Bigal]

Thats what i thought once i'd read it

He had probably seen Masch's original contract as well

 

I can only hope, every time someone says “Mascherano” Rick starts doing the dance

[Falconhoof]

West Ham forums are going ballistic at Parry and LFC over this.

 

The reporting of this lays our club open to all sorts of abuse. I suppose its to be expected when our own supporters are so easily fooled by the headline.

[jfogarty]

Regardless of Tevez and Benayoun Id love it if West Ham got relegated

[Magic8Ball]

More interestingly I'm concerned at the risk of selling Bellamy - ie if WHU think they are going down they wont want Bellamy

 

Fortunately we seem to have a few potential swap deals in the works

 

Roma for Mancini and Juventus for Trezeguet

 

hope one of these deals comes off

[johngibo YPC]

I can only hope, every time someone says “Mascherano” Rick starts doing the dance

 

"Your honour. all i have to say on the matter is.....oooooooooone pass, two pass three Mascherano"

[Murphman]

I can only hope, every time someone says “Mascherano” Rick starts doing the dance

 

 

What an image!!

[Raj]

"Your honour. all i have to say on the matter is.....oooooooooone pass, two pass three Mascherano"

 

[Mad_Fer_It]

I really hope west ham dont get relegated....

Blades are a s*** team with a s*** manager, the deserve to be relegated.

[Tim]

Parry was the one who first spotted the issue with regards Mascherano's and Tevez's transfers to west ham so he was always going to be called in. And who cares what west ham's supporters think, they should be having a go at the clubs previous owners not our club.

[Michael]

Surely Parry has been called because he was chief executive at the Premier Leugue when the rule was introduced so he will be giving evidence in that capacity as a neutral witness. I can't see how Liverpool as a club is involved in any way.

Edited June 18, 2007 by Michael

[ricflairandy]

Parry has been called for a few reasons, the ones mentioned above aswell as the fact that he was in charge when they docked boro points.

[Guest Redmond]

Surely Parry has been called because he was chief executive at the Premier Leugue when the rule was introduced so he will be giving evidence in that capacity as a neutral witness. I can't see how Liverpool as a club is involved in any way.

 

No, Parry was called because he brought in Mascherano, and having noticed irregularities grassed West Ham up to the Premier League.

 

Having said that, he probably had no choice as he didn't want us to end up the situation that West Ham were in.

Edited June 18, 2007 by Redmond

[Spiblish]

West Ham forums are going ballistic at Parry and LFC over this.

 

The reporting of this lays our club open to all sorts of abuse. I suppose its to be expected when our own supporters are so easily fooled by the headline.

The only people they should be mad at are there own board(as was) and also Egg as surely the due diligence should have flagged up this "issue". They might not be in this situation if they had actually repoprted the problem themselves!

[Guest Redmond]

Parry has been called for a few reasons, the ones mentioned above aswell as the fact that he was in charge when they docked boro points.

 

 

What's that got to do with the tribunal?

[Earl Hafler]

I really hope west ham dont get relegated....

Blades are a s*** team

true

with a s*** manager

, true

they deserve to be relegated

No, they've been f**ked good and proper on this one. West Ham should be relegated - everyone in football knows it. Ridiculous decision in the first place that has little chance of being overturned.

 

 

What's that got to do with the tribunal?

[anny road]

What's that got to do with the tribunal?

 

 

is that a serious question

[Dog]

Parry was the first chief executive of the Premier League and he was called as a witness by Sheffield United to answer questions about when the rules were first established.

 

Absolutely nothing to do with LFC.

 

Sensationalist media reporting again and again and again...

[Guest Redmond]

is that a serious question

 

 

Absolutely. Borough being docked points is only relevant if it sets a precedent. Borough were docked points for not showing up; West Ham were fined for fielding a player, the details of who's ownership infringed PL rules. There is no precedent.