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Blades chief hits out at 'Southern bias'
SHEFFIELD United chairman Kevin McCabe has hit-out at the 'Southern bias' he believes the club have faced after an independent arbitration panel ordered West Ham to pay them damages over the Carlos Tevez Affair.
McCabe, the driving force behind United's campaign for justice following their relegation from the Premier League two seasons ago, suspects Bramall Lane has become the victim of a smear campaign since the landmark legal ruling.
West Ham, who are attempting to appeal the verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, were found guilty of breaching transfer regulations when they signed Tevez and his fellow Argentine Javier Masherano from Corin thians in August 2006.
Both players have since left Upton Park but United successfully argued that Tevez, who continued to represent West Ham after they were fined for breaking rules outlawing third party ownership, was worth at least three points in his team's battle to avoid relegation; the margin between the South Yorkshire outfit and their rivals from the capital.
Confirming that United are now in the process of finalising their claim ahead of a hearing next year, McCabe, commenting on the coverage which greeted the verdict, told The Star: "I think there might be a little bit of southern bias.
"People seem to have forgotten that we're the innocent party in all of this.
"The only thing we have been is an innocent party which refused to roll over.
"It's a pity that the whole thing wasn't sorted-out sooner which, of course, would have been the best thing for everyone.
"But unfortunately it wasn't and we were right to fight on."
United expect to hear later this month if CAS, despite previously suggesting they were powerless to intervene, will grant West Ham's request and McCabe added: "We're currently putting together our claim and, when that is considered, we fully expect it to be scruntinised before an actual amount is decided.
"West Ham are making an attempt to appeal it elsewhere but, as far as we are concerned, the outcome of the arbitration was binding under English law."
Meanwhile, McCabe revealed that United are continuing their search for "investment partners" despite the global credit crunch.
McCabe has previously spoken with two parties from America about the possibility of injecting fresh capital into United.
"It's about roots and wings," he said.
"Our roots are the community and we must never lose sight of that.
"To get to the highest level we can achieve though we also need wings and it's something we've looked at.
"But we've got to be patient though and that's what anyone coming in in the future would be: partners."
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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