Premier League underline Tevez stance

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A six-page letter to all 20 club chairmen from league chief executive Richard Scudamore and chairman Sir Dave Richards says there is no issue over whether Tevez was eligible or not to play for West Ham and adds that there has been no precedent set that the club should have been docked points for having a third-party agreement.

The letter says: "Tevez has been properly registered to play for West Ham United since 31 August 2006. The Board, under our rules, is charged with the authority to determine this. He continues to be registered with West Ham United. This is a case without precedent and certainly cannot be compared with clubs who have played unregistered players or players ineligible through suspension."

The letter contined: "On 26 April West Ham United admitted to breaches of rules B13 and U18 - for which they have been fined in accordance with our rules. The offending third-party agreement has been terminated by West Ham United and therefore they are not continuing to be in breach."

The letter goes on to state that had West Ham submitted the agreements back in August, the League would have told them merely to remove the offending clauses rather than taken disciplinary action.

"This is a common occurrence all clubs are aware of as the League seeks generally to help clubs register players not prevent them," says the letter.

"Third-party agreements exist in many varied forms throughout football - banking or finance agreements, players' commercial arrangements, agency or representative agreements - many of which do not fall under the Premier League's jurisdiction and do not contravene our rules.

"We are the only league to our knowledge that has such a rule - neither the Football League, FA nor FIFA have one."

The bitter row over Tevez intensified on Wednesday after Sheffield United launched the first legal steps in their bid to have West Ham docked points. The Blades' lawyers say they have instituted "arbitration proceedings" against the Premier League, and want a three-man tribunal set up to rule on the dispute.

The Premier League have confirmed receipt of the claim but it is understood they are not obliged to agree to enter into the process.