Sheffield United lose appeal in Tevez affair

LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) Sheffield United's appeal against a Premier League decision which they believe led to their relegation was dismissed by an arbitration panel today.

Sheffield United had challenged the decision of an independent Premier League commission to fine West Ham United, rather than dock them points, for breaking rules when they signed Argentine pair Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez last August.

In a tense finish to last season, West Ham stayed up winning seven of their last nine league matches with Tevez scoring six goals in that spell, while Sheffield United won only two of their last nine games and went down on the final day.

The three-man arbitration panel's decision to back the Premier League means Sheffield United will start next season on Aug 11 against Colchester United in the second division. West Ham will kick off the new Premier League season at Upton Park against Manchester City.

West Ham had been found guilty of ''dishonesty and deceit'' by the commission on April 27 and were fined 5.5 million pound (11.09 million dollars)s But it also ruled ''a deduction of points would not be proportionate punishment'' as the club had new owners and points lost in April would have meant relegation.

United countered that breaches of ownership rules in the contracts of Tevez and Mascherano meant West Ham had fielded ineligible players and that a points deduction was unavoidable.

The Premier League sought an end to the row by agreeing to a two-day arbitration hearing which ended on June 19, with the panel then considering their verdict.

Tevez became a key player for West Ham in their late season rally, while Mascherano agreed in the January transfer window to join Liverpool. The deal was cleared by FIFA before the deadline and rubber-stamped by the Premier League in February.

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