Carlos Tevez's protracted transfer to Manchester United
took yet another dramatic twist last night when Kia Joorabchian
issued a High Court writ against West Ham. The Iranian businessman,
who maintains he owns the 'economic rights' to the player,
initiated legal proceedings in an attempt to force through Tevez's
£30million move to Old Trafford.
The move came after another chaotic day in the long-running saga
which began with a recommendation from FIFA that the matter be
referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne,
something West Ham agreed to but Joorabchian did not.
Instead, he issued a writ against West Ham for breach of contract
and damages, fearing that should he agree to take the dispute to
CAS, the matter would not be settled by the close of the transfer
window on August 31. He is also unwilling for the evidence to be
heard behind closed doors, which would have been the outcome if the
case had gone to Lausanne, as he is keen to prove he has nothing to
hide.
Joorabchian's grievance is over West Ham's decision to tear up
their contract with his companies, MSI and Just Sports Inc, for
Tevez after the Premier League fined the club £5.5million for
breaching rules regarding third party ownership of players. Doing
so allowed West Ham, who retain Tevez's registration, to continue
playing the Argentina forward for the remaining three games of last
season with his goalscoring contribution proving vital to their
Premier League survival.
Lawyer Graham Shear, representing MSI and Just Sports Inc, said in
a statement: "I can confirm that the companies 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 can be registered to play
with Manchester United, as soon as possible."
Should the High Court find in favour of Joorabchian, it could open
the door for Sheffield United relegated while West Ham survived
to pursue a compensation claim of their own. Having been thwarted
in their attempts to be reinstated to the Premier League, the
Yorkshire club will doubtless be very interested observers of the
High Court case especially if it rules that the contract between
West Ham and Joorabchian effectively remained intact as Tevez
played on for the crucial final three games of the season.
That the saga is set to go before a judge has much to do with the
Premier League's insistence that West Ham, not Joorabchian, must be
seen to be the financial beneficiaries of Tevez's
transfer.
