West Ham escape with big fine

West Ham have been fined £5.5m after being found guilty over the transfers of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. This is half of the parachute payment they will receive if relegated. But the Irons have avoided a points deduction which could have ended their hopes of staying in the Premeirship.

The club was found guilty of acting improperly and withholding vital documentation over the duo's ownership. Among the stated reasons for the decision not to deduct points was because of a guilty plea and the club is under new management and ownership.

I've just done a piece for Sky and listening to the feed beforehand the position re Tevez is complicated but it seems unlikely he will play tomorrow. For that to happen West Ham would have to buy him off the former owners or negotiate a formal loan deal with them.