Fifa to probe Tevez affair

FIFA are to investigate whether there was anything wrong in the decision not to dock West Ham points over the Carlos Tevez affair.

The game’s world governing body will demand the Premier League hand over all the files related to the rule breaches over the signing of Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter insisted the organisation had the power to pass a final verdict on an independent commission’s decision to fine West Ham £5.5m for breaching Premier League rules over third-party agreements.

Several Premier League clubs are considering legal action against the League over the commission’s sanction, claiming the Hammers should have been deducted points.

Blatter said FIFA would look into the case as a matter of urgency – whether or not they are invited to do so.

He told a media briefing in Zurich: “We will look at this – and not only if we are asked, we will do it anyway.

“We will ask for the file once it has been decided how and why the decision was made.

“If we feel something was wrong in this decision then we have to open our file.”

Blatter said in terms of timescale a “decision would have to be taken immediately.”

He added that according to FIFA’s files the transfer of Tevez and Mascherano from Brazilian side Corinthians to West Ham had complied with international transfer regulations.

Blatter added: “We will monitor this situation very carefully and once this situation is dealt with by the league and the FA we will ask for the files and have a look because we have the right and the responsibility to see how such cases are dealt with.

“The matter is linked with a club in Brazil – Corinthians – and with the ownership of this club and the ownership of the two players.

“According to our files the transfer of Tevez was done correctly according to the international transfer of players.”

If FIFA were to attempt to overrule the independent commission it would cause a huge storm in the world of football.

It seems more likely that FIFA will check carefully to ensure that the league’s disciplinary process was been followed correctly, and if they are satisfied that it was then will ratify the decision.

The Premier League will not welcome FIFA’s involvement but any such ratification move would strengthen their hand in any legal battle.

And tonight they agreed to help the FIFA investigation.

A statement from the Premier League read: “We have implemented our rulebook and processes to the letter in this matter and we are more than happy to give FIFA any assurances or explanations they need.”

Blatter said a recent ruling by the Swiss federal court against Spanish third division side Rayo Vallecano meant FIFA did have jurisdiction over individual clubs.

He added: “Yes we have the power. The Swiss federal court has made a ruling by saying that FIFA and their associations have the right and the power to use all 14 sanctions of the disciplinary code, starting with a warning and ending with exclusion of a member via relegation and deduction of points.”

In the Rayo Vallecano case, the Spanish club had been threatened with relegation if they did not pay transfer fees owed to a Brazilian club.

Rayo, unsuccessfully, claimed FIFA did not have the power to do so.