Blades to take relegation fight to EC

The Premier League today publishes next season’s fixture list despite Sheffield United’s campaign to overturn relegation — with the Blades taking their challenge to the EC.

League chiefs are so confident that next week’s arbitration panel will not rule against the Blades’ relegation that they have decided not to postpone the fixtures until after the hearing.

It is understood that the league believe the chances are virtually nil that the arbitration panel will order a new disciplinary hearing for West Ham over the Carlos Tevez affair.

Today’s fixtures, therefore, will include West Ham as one of the 20 Premier League clubs and not Sheffield United.

The Blades have reacted by extending their campaign to the political arena with a protest meeting at Westminster yesterday backed by local MPs and actor Sean Bean, and a meeting with European Commission representatives tomorrow.

Players’ union chief executive Gordon Taylor has also backed their stance.

Taylor said: “I think they have a real valid case. I just think it’s sad that this has been a shadow hanging over the season.

“There were people involved at West Ham who knew what they were doing and they are the ones who should be held to account.

“If some of them are still in football, then the penalties should apply to them for doing it wrong in the first place.”

Sheffield United plc chairman Kevin McCabe is confident of success, but says the club will accept their relegation if the panel finds against them.

However McCabe warned that would not be the end of the issue, and said the Blades could then approach the European Commission in pursuit of compensation.

McCabe said: “If the arbitration were to go against us on Monday, we recognise that we are relegated to the Championship.

“I wouldn’t say that is the end of the issue. We have on Friday a trip to Brussels to meet the European Commissioner for culture and sport, Jan Figel, so we are making our presentation there this week.”

Asked about the purpose of going to Brussels, McCabe said: “I suppose compensation. I’ve no idea how much.

“The real key is the arbitration, to right the wrongs of the injustice that was caused by the first decision. We didn’t field ineligible players.”