FIFA TO RULE ON TEVEZ TRANSFER

FIFA have been called in to break the deadlock in the Carlos Tevez dispute.

West Ham and Manchester United believe only the world governing body can end the impasse over the Argentina striker and a decision to call in FIFA was taken by the clubs last night.

It will be Tevez himself, however, who will formally call for FIFA's dispute resolution panel to step in - a process that could happen within a fortnight.

Manchester United remain ultra-confident the 24-year-old will eventually become their player.

United chief executive David Gill confirmed the Red Devils' bid to sign the Argentina forward, who has scrapped plans to have a medical in Manchester this week, was headed for FIFA to effectively determine who currently owns Tevez: West Ham or his adviser Kia Joorabchian.

"There has been a lot of discussions over the last few days between Manchester United, West Ham and the Premier League but the case will probably go before FIFA's dispute resolution chamber (DRC)," said Gill, speaking in Seoul, Korea.

"We are very confident this will be resolved in favour of the player and he will be free to achieve his wish of joining Manchester United."

West Ham confirmed they have written to the Premier League this morning requesting the matter be referred to FIFA.

A West Ham spokesman said: "It now makes sense for this to be dealt with by FIFA.

"All parties agree this is the best way forward and of course we will be involved in helping this be resolved as quickly as possible."

United legal expert Maurice Watkins met with West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson in London yesterday, yet despite feeling reasonably optimistic a solution could be negotiated, there was only deadlock.

Although the Red Devils hope to push the matter through as quickly as possible, there remains the real possibility Tevez, who has now been allowed to start a short holiday, might not be signed before the August 31 transfer deadline.

"Hopefully the case will be heard on an expedited basis but we are not sure whether we will have him signed in time for the new season," said Gill.

"It may take up to two weeks for the body to be formed, all the paperwork has to be put together and then the case has to be heard.

"Even given that timetable we hope by the time the new season kicks off, Carlos will be training at Carrington."

Earlier this week, Gill, an influential FA board member, suggested the whole saga had become "over-complicated".

However, it now looks like becoming even more problematic, with Sheffield United no doubt keenly interested in how the matter is eventually resolved given Tevez played such a huge role in sending them down.

"All the discussions we have had over the last few weeks lead us to believe this will be resolved in Carlos' favour," said Gill.

"Once that happens, he will be free to join Manchester United."

While FIFA will examine all the documentation before deciding whether they have any jurisdiction over the case, it seems certain the Premier League - as well as West Ham - would be happy to abide by any decision.

So, instead of having his medical, Tevez will now go on holiday, hoping by the time he returns, he will only need to sign a contract to become a United player.

"It was always Sir Alex's plan to give Carlos a break, so I expect he will now go on an exotic holiday with his family," added Gill.

"He has not completed a medical with us."

However, Mick McGuire, an English board member of FIFPro who represent disputes that go to the DRC, believes the transfer could rumble on further to the player status committee (PSC).

He said: "It could drag on. But FIFA make the regulations on transfer windows and know the time frames - you would hope they take that into account.

"You can take it to the next stage, to CAS, and that would be the final appeal stage."

Whether a case is suitable for the DRC or PSC depends on the nature of the dispute, if it is club-to-club or player-to-club.

McGuire continued: "It's a matter of which avenue is most appropriate. It could be seen as a dispute between Manchester United and West Ham, or between Tevez and West Ham."

McGuire is also deputy chief executive for the Professional Footballers' Association, who have expressed concern over the issue of third-party ownership that is at the heart of the Tevez case.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has previously highlighted the problems of players being owned by companies or individuals.

"It's trafficking in people, which is never good," said Taylor.

"Once you get an individual or a company - not a football club - owning a player, you will get trouble.

"From a PFA point of view, you can't have players owned by individuals rather than clubs because it will make a mockery of the transfer system - and we don't want people trading in people.

"If you have a situation where that is the case then it will lead to nothing but trouble for the integrity of the game."

Taken from =football365=