The Court of Arbitration for Sport has revealed that West Ham have lodged an appeal against Sheffield United over the Carlos Tevez affair.
The Premier League club were ordered to pay compensation to the Blades by a Football Association arbitration panel last month.
West Ham immediately confirmed their intention to contest the decision and they have now taken the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
A statement read: “The CAS 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. In any event, a decision on jurisdiction is not to be expected before the end of November 2008.”
Argentine duo Tevez and Javier Mascherano arrived at Upton Park in the summer of 2006 but it later emerged that businessman Kia Joorabchian had negotiated the transfer and that his company part-owned Tevez. The Premier League found West Ham guilty of breaching the rules on third-party ownership.
The Hammers were handed a £5.5m fine by the Premier League but there was no points deduction, and Tevez was instrumental in keeping West Ham in the top flight as Sheffield United went down. Sheffield United are claiming more than £30m in compensation from West Ham.
