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CAS to rule on jurisdiction in Tevez affair

15/10/2008

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has announced it is to rule on its jurisdiction in the dispute over the Carlos Tevez affair.

CAS has confirmed it has received a statement of appeal from West Ham United, who are hopeful the ruling of the Football Association's arbitration panel in favour of Sheffield United can be overturned.

Today, the court in Lausanne has said it has "initiated an arbitration procedure and will first examine its jurisdiction as a preliminary issue after both clubs have had the opportunity to file written submissions on this point".

"For the moment, no decision has been made with respect to the holding of a hearing," the statement continued.

"In any event, a decision on jurisdiction is not to be expected before the end of November 2008."

On September 18th the FA ruled the Hammers must reimburse losses incurred by Sheffield United after the Blades were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2006/07 season.

West Ham were found by the FA to have failed in their duty to correctly register Argentinean international Tevez at the beginning of the season.

Rather than dock the club points, however, West Ham were hit with a £5.5 million fine which Sheffield United thought was unfair – especially after they were relegated courtesy of Tevez's winner against Manchester United on the final day of the season that kept the Hammers out of the bottom three.

If the FA arbitration ruling stands, West Ham could be ordered to pay compensation to the Yorkshire club of anything up to £30 million - which is the total estimated loss incurred by relegation from the Premier League.

This, in turn, could lead to several Sheffield United players suing the Hammers for their personal loss of earnings following their relegation to the Championship.