The Carlos Tevez transfer saga is headed for court -- though not the
court FIFA had in mind following its decision earlier on Tuesday. In a
meeting between FIFA, English Football Association and Premier League
officials, the representatives from soccer's world governing body said
the Tevez affair would be better handled by the Court of Arbitration
for Sport Switzerland. "It is not a refusal by FIFA to get involved,
quite the contrary," FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said, stressing that
the decision was a recommendation, not a mandate. However, he pointed
out that a federal hearing would likely be the fastest way of settling
the matter -- which is in the interest of all parties involved since
the Premier League season already begins on Aug. 11.
But agent Kia Joorabchian, who is at the heart of the dispute,
has instigated High Court proceedings in Britain against West Ham United over the
Tevez transfer affair. While Manchester United is keen to sign Tevez,
the suit does not directly involve the Old Trafford club. Rather, it's
between Joorabchian, and West Ham United, the Argentine striker's
current employer, backed by the English Premier League, over the
destination of a transfer fee. Joorabchian claims full ownership of
Tevez's economic rights and is thus entitled to receive Manchester
United's fee, while West Ham and the EPL believe that the contract
guaranteeing those economic rights was ripped up at the end of last
season when the league found West Ham guilty of breaching its rules in
signing a player owned by a third party. The EPL states that West Ham,
and not Joorabchian, must receive the payment to be in compliance with
its transfer rules. Either way, Man United should get its man when all
is said and done. Read the original story...



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