Tevez case heading to the High Court

Carlos Tevez's representative Kia Joorabchian is taking his fight with West Ham to the High Court.

A writ was served this afternoon on the club's solicitors by lawyers acting on behalf of Joorabchian's companies MSI and Just Sports Inc.

Joorabchian has called for the court to intervene to enable Argentinian striker Tevez, 23, to play for Manchester United.

Tevez is registered as West Ham's player but Joorabchian claims he owns the player's economic rights and is therefore entitled to any transfer fee, which is at odds with the Premier League's stance.

The League want West Ham to receive any fee for Tevez.

When the independent inquiry reached their verdict on Tevez three games before the end of the season, the league offered West Ham three alternatives - amending the third party agreement, letting the player leave with immediate effect or unilaterally ripping up the third party agreement.

West Ham chose the latter option which effectively allowed Tevez to play the remainder of campaign but also came with a stern warning from the league.

The Hammers were told their 'ownership' of Tevez would be monitored and under no circumstances would the Hammers be allowed to extricate themselves from the situation once the season reached the conclusion.

Cheif executive Richard Scudamore said: "The options were sound. They chose the option they chose. It has made life difficult for them, and, in a way, us, by choosing the option they did but that is the option they chose. They could have gone a different way.

"For eight months now, we have been trying to resolve this issue as well as keeping the rule book intact. It is quite difficult."

FIFA came to their decision about CAS ruling on the dispute following a high level meeting with FA and Premier League officials in Zurich yesterday.

In a statement a Premier League spokesman said: "The Premier League and FA are grateful to FIFA for considering this issue. We are supportive of the recommendation that if all parties are in agreement the matter should be referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport."

In a statement, West Ham said: "West Ham United is led to believe that MSI and Just Sports Inc. have issued a writ against the club this evening, although we are yet to receive this officially.

"We will liaise with our lawyers and a further statement will be made when appropriate."

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