The controversial Carlos Tevez saga has prompted Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore to recommend changes in the way the league handles such cases.
Questions over the Argentine striker’s ownership when at West Ham prompted relegated Sheffield United to take court action and the case dragged on when Manchester United tried to sign the player in the close season.
Rule changes are expected to be ratified at a Premier League board meeting next week.
Scudamore told The Times: “There is a feeling we have to act differently.”
Tevez is currently finalising his move to United after being cleared to sign the Argentine by the Premier League.
The saga, which centred on whether West Ham or Tevez’s agent owned the player’s economic rights, delivered a fresh blow to the Premier League’s reputation following Lord Steven’s report into transfer dealings.
Scudamore admitted: “Changes have to be made for the same reason the Stevens’ report was necessary.
“We cannot keep taking this blow to our reputation and the clubs recognise that.
“I think clubs are realising and we are realising that there really isn’t any place to hide any more.
“On the back of the Carlos Tevez affair, we have changed the rules so that all documentation relating to player registration and employment has to be submitted in advance of signing the player
Scudamore added: “Among West Ham’s defences were that they believed the third-party agreement did not have anything to do with the player’s registration. That is why it was not shown to the Premier League. Our policy now is: let us be the judge.”
