The Potters dedicate their entire website to their new winger

Looking at the homepage to Stoke’s official site you’d be forgiven for thinking they had signed Leo Messi rather than Matthew Etherington. The Potters have only just confirmed the capture of the West Ham winger for an undisclosed fee but they already have six separate stories dedicated to their “star” signing.

Unsurprisingly, Etherington’s departure isn’t the top story on West Ham’s website, with the rather more pressing concern of the thousandth inquiry into Carlos Tevez’ season in East London taking precedence.

The FA and Premier League have announced that they will investigate the most recent tribunal’s verdict that West Ham misled the Premier League to get permission to play Tevez in the final three matches of the season. It’s been almost four months since the tribunal findings became public knowledge so you have to question why it has taken them so long to come to this decision to investigate and whether it is fair to announce it in the middle of the transfer window, when it is bound to unsettle some of West Ham’s stars.

Could it be that the FA and Premier League are desperate to finally clarify the third-party ownership rules in case a certain Argentine striker becomes available in the summer? Tell us what you think with a comment below.

Should the Premier League have demanded more proof in April?

The latest extract leaked from The Daily Mail’s copy of the Tevez tribunal outcome offers even more proof that the incompetence of Premier League chiefs Richard Scudamore and Dave Richards is to blame for the current situation:

If the Premier League had known what Mr Duxbury for West Ham was saying to Mr Joorabchian’s solicitor (Graham Shear) following the commission’s decision, we are confident the Premier League would have suspended Mr Tevez’s registration as a West Ham player.

This implies that while the Premier League gave West Ham permission to play Carlos Tevez in the final three matches on the understanding that the Hammers had amended their arrangement with Kia Joorabchian, chief executive Scott Duxbury was telling the MSI chief differently behind closed doors.

A can of worms has been opened, folks

Photo: PA

Sheffield United’s successful tribunal ruling against West Ham could cost the Hammers £30m in compensation, and it also sets a dangerous precedent for results on the pitch being overruled by men in suits. The Spoiler decided to examine other potential footballing matters that could end up being settled by lawyers:

1) Watford miss out on the play-offs by a point

The Football League have decided there will be no replay of Saturday’s Watford/Reading match, despite the fact that the Royal’s opener was clearly not a goal. If Watford end up finishing just outside the play-off places, or if Reading wind up just inside them - does that give Watford the right to sue the Football League, the referee and the linesman?

2) Germany claim the 1966 World Cup

Sheffield United were able to win their case relying predominantly on ‘what ifs’, rather than solid facts. Imagine how successful a Germany appeal could be when they have digitally-enhanced evidence that Geoff Hurst’s second goal didn’t cross the line - another example of West Ham cheating!

3) England gain passage to the 1986 World Cup semi-finals

Maybe England could compensate for losing that World Cup by sueing Argentina for Diego Maradona’s

West Ham lose out in Carlos Tevez appeal

Photo: PA

Sheffield Utd chairman Kevin McCabe has confirmed that an independent tribunal ruled in favour of his club over the Carlos Tevez saga. Lord Griffiths was overseeing proceedings, and decided that West Ham would have earned at least three fewer points in 2006/07season if Carlos Tevez had not been playing for the club. Accordingly, a hefty sum has been demanded by Sheffield Utd:

The compensation figure has yet to be set but United are reported to be demanding £30,396,897. Of that amount, £21,788,795 is for lost television and marketing money, along with lost bonus payments for league positions. Also included is a claim of a loss of £4m on the sale of Phil Jagielka to Everton.

This compensation ruling will come as a huge blow to the Hammers, who already forked out £5.5m in 2007 for ‘transfer irregularities’ over Tevez’s and javier Mascherano’s registrations. Still, it’s a lot better than getting relegated, right Blades fans?