West Ham slam Joorabchian 'threats'

1:59pm Thursday 19th July 2007

WEST Ham has issued an official statement dismissing Kia Joorabchian's claims that the club has been duplicitous in the Carlos Tevez affair.

Joorabchian said on Wednesday that West Ham had "consistently made private assurances while at the same time making contrary statements to the public at large" over Tevez's future.

He added: "We see no alternative but to bring the true circumstances to the attention of a higher authority to aid a rapid conclusion to this issue."

The club, today, responded: "West Ham United totally rejects the latest outburst and threats issued in the name of Kia Joorabchian in relation to the situation regarding Carlos Tevez.

The statement continued: "Mr Joorabchian entered into agreements with the previous regime at West Ham United at a time in which he was attempting to take over the club. Those arrangements, since terminated by West Ham United, led the club into serious disciplinary difficulties for which it has paid a heavy price.

"It is absolutely clear that the only contract relating to Carlos Tevez recognised by West Ham United and the Premier League is the player's four-year contract which runs until June 2010. All other arrangements were terminated by West Ham on 27th April 2007 and no legal challenge to that termination has occurred."

The striker's desired move to Manchester United has been held up by the Premier League insistence that the deal be done between United and West Ham, not Joorabchian or the South American companies who claim to own Tevez's economic rights.

The Upton Park club say they have received still received no offer from the player and have refused him permission to complete a medical at Old Trafford.

A special 'dispute resolution chamber' is to be set up by Fifa, as soon as possible, to effectively determine who currently owns Tevez - West Ham or Joorabchian's Media Sport Investment and Just Sport Incorporated.

The east London side were only allowed to keep playing Tevez last season after assuring the Premier League all third-party clauses in the player's contract had been severed, but have intimated they would be willing to sell him if the deal can be completed following the appropriate procedure.

West Ham concluded: "The club has in recent weeks made every effort to keep Carlos Tevez at West Ham and indeed offered significantly improved terms and conditions to the player, which were not accepted.

"However a transfer of a properly registered player cannot occur without agreement between two clubs and the Premier League.

"Without such an agreement we believe that it is in the interest of all parties to resolve this issue as quickly as possible through the procedures laid down by Fifa.

"Public threats and accusations are irrelevant, let Fifa decide and West Ham will accept that judgement whatever the outcome. The time has come to settle this matter in a way which will allow everyone concerned to move on."

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