We’ve already seen Round 1 between West Ham and Sheffield United go to the Blades with their desire to go the Arbitration Claim route and Round 2 looks set to begin with the FA and Premier League launching their own investigation.

Via DailyMail

The new investigation, into West Ham’s dealings with the striker’s representatives after the club had initially been fined £5.5million for breaching league rules over third-party agreements, will be conducted jointly by the FA and the Premier League.

And if found guilty the cash-strapped club, who are already facing a £50m compensation claim from Sheffield United, would face a crippling fine and a points deduction – pushing them into the relegation zone.

A joint statement said: ‘The Premier League and the FA are to institute a joint inquiry into the views expressed by the Independent Arbitral Tribunal chaired by Lord Griffiths in September 2008, which dealt with a compensation claim by Sheffield United against West Ham United brought under FA Rules.

‘The joint inquiry will examine whether the conduct of West Ham United immediately after the Independent Disciplinary Commission’s decision of 27 April 2007 amounted to further breaches of Premier League or FA Rules.’

The inquiry means West Ham or individuals could face further disciplinary action but say they have nothing to hide from the new investigation.

A club statement on www.whufc.com said: ‘West Ham United will co-operate fully with the joint inquiry convened by the FA and Premier League.

‘We have acted in good faith throughout the various inquiries and investigations into this matter and fulfilled the undertakings given to the Premier League following the initial penalty.

‘We have nothing to hide and will ensure that this is once again reflected in our evidence to the FA and Premier League.’

The arbitration tribunal heard evidence from lawyer Graham Shear, solicitor for Tevez’s agent Kia Joorabchian, that West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury provided verbal assurances that the third party agreement still existed despite having informed the Premier League that the agreement had been terminated.

The Tribunal ruled: ‘If the Premier League had known what Mr Duxbury for West Ham was saying to Mr Joorabchian’s solicitor following the commission decision, we are confident that the Premier League would have suspended Mr Tevez’s registration as a West Ham player.

‘We have no doubt that those [Tevez's] services were worth at least three points to West Ham over the season and were what made the difference between West Ham remaining in the Premiership and being relegated at the end of the season.’

Image via Psp