One of the most scandalous episodes in West Ham United's history is set to be banished to the history books as the club prepare to make their final compensation payment to League One side Sheffield United.
The Yorkshire club sued the Irons for fielding an ineligible player in the form of Argentina international Carlos Tevez in the 2006/2007 season, at the end of which West Ham stayed up by the skin of our teeth as the Blades were relegated. Having failed in their original bid to have the Hammers demoted to the Championship after the Premier League ruled not to dock the club league points and instead impose a £5.5 million fine; Sheffield United took their pathetic legal wrangling one step further and the Irons were found guilty by an independent tribunal of fielding an ineligible player and were ordered to pay compensation of £18.1 million to the Yorkshire side.
The amount has been paid in instalments since the decision was made in summer 2007, but the sorry episode is set to be well and truly over as West Ham prepare to make a final payment of £6 million which will come into Sheffield United's bank account this July. The Blades stated in their accounts that the compensation payments have proved hugely beneficial to the club and have helped to pay off debts and pay wages (presumably including those of ex Blade Steve Kabba, who the club signed from Watford during the same season as the Tevez fiasco as- if you'll believe this- part of a third party deal.)
UEFA has now pledged to ban all third party ownership deals to ensure nothing like Tevezgate can happen again. Fantastic news for all us Irons- the doom in the form of the compensation payments looming over our heads has blighted many a West Ham fan's day whenever he reflects upon his club. Wooo!
By Alex Shilling
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