Hammers' rivals have legal case - lawyer

Clubs relegated from the top flight this season would have a case for legal action against the Premier League for failing to dock West Ham points, according to sports lawyer Mel Goldberg.

The Hammers were fined £5.5m for breaching rules over signing of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, with an independent panel refusing a points-sanction as players and fans were not to blame and it would have “consigned the club to certain relegation”.

It gives Alan Curbishley’s men a chance of survival with two games of the season remaining.

“I do believe that, if a club goes down by a point or two, those relegation clubs would have a decent claim,” said Goldberg.

“It seems part of the decision has been attributed to the fact that it is near the end of the season and they didn’t want to upset the supporters.

“That seems to be irrelevant. If West Ham were playing players who were not properly registered, there have been precedents of other teams being dropped points. The rules should be the same.”

Clubs in lower leagues have previously been docked points for irregularities, while Bury were kicked out of the FA Cup this season.

Past precedents would add to a case for relegated teams if West Ham climb out of the bottom three.

Goldberg added: “They could possible ask for money as compensation if they argue they were not being treated fairly.”

West Ham also fielded Tevez in an FA Cup victory against Brighton.

Although it is not possible to reinstate them at this stage of the season, the League One side could seek compensation.

“They would be entitled to claim for damages,” said Goldberg.

“They could argue that they shouldn’t have been knocked out of that round, and that they lost X amount of pounds.”