FIFA to investigate Tevez transfer row

ZURICH, May 15 (Reuters) FIFA will investigate the controversial transfer to West Ham United of Argentines Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, the world body's president Sepp Blatter said today.

Blatter told a media briefing at FIFA headquarters in Zurich that his organisation would look into the case regardless of any legal challenges launched by West Ham's rival clubs.

''We are monitoring this situation very carefully and we will ourselves look at the files once it has been dealt with by the English league and the Football Association,'' Blatter said.

''We will look at this, and not only if we are asked. We will do it anyway.'' West Ham were fined a record 5.5 million pounds last month by an independent Premier League commission over irregularities in the players' contracts last August.

REUTERS BJR KN1744