Tevez FIFA meeting scheduled for Monday

The Carlos Tevez transfer saga appears a step closer to being resolved after FIFA agreed to meet representatives of the Premier League and Football Association on Monday.

Members of the three organisations’ legal teams will convene in Zurich to decide whether it is “appropriate” for the world game’s governing body to arbitrate in the dispute between Tevez and current club West Ham.

The Hammers are eager for FIFA to get involved in what has become a stalemate in recent weeks, with the London club refusing to sanction the Argentina striker’s proposed move to Manchester United.

Under normal circumstances, FIFA would only arbitrate in non-domestic transfer disputes but the thorny issue of Tevez’s ownership prompted both West Ham and Manchester United to ask for their help.

A Premier League spokesman told PA Sport: “The Premier League and the FA will be meeting to discuss whether it’s appropriate for FIFA to arbitrate on the dispute between Tevez and West Ham.”

Tevez is registered as a West Ham player, but businessman Kia Joorabchian claims he owns the 23-year-old’s economic rights and is therefore entitled to any transfer fee.

However, the Hammers ripped up an agreement they had with Joorabchian – which breached Premier League rules – and they now claim any deal with United can only go ahead with their say-so.

The Premier League spokesman added: “West Ham contend that they have a four-year contract with the player and the player’s representatives contend that it’s a one-year contract with escape clauses.”

Joorabchian last week accused West Ham of saying one thing in private and another in public in their stance on the Tevez ownership issue, a charge the Upton Park club then strenuously denied.

With the Premier League sticking to their position that the Hammers own the player and are therefore entitled to any transfer fee, a FIFA ruling in Joorabchian’s favour would cause them huge embarrassment.

The time it takes to reach a conclusion could be crucial to Tevez’s prospects of joining United this year.

There are fears the saga could drag on beyond the August 31 transfer deadline, precluding the striker moving to Old Trafford before the transfer window re-opens in January.

Should either party be unhappy with the outcome, there is also the possibility of an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which would extend the process even further.

Manchester United chief executive David Gill is confident of a speedy outcome.

He said: “It is a complicated matter being worked on by all the parties involved and we hope for a positive resolution in the course of the next few weeks.”

“We are in discussions with the FA and FIFA on the matter. It is moving to the appropriate body.”