ZURICH (Reuters):

FIFA WILL investigate the controversial transfer to West Ham United of Argentines Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, the world governing body's president, Sepp Blatter, said yesterday.

Blatter told a media briefing at FIFA headquarters in Zurich that his organisation would look into the case regardless of any legal challenges launched by West Ham's rival clubs.

"We are monitoring this situation very carefully and we will ourselves look at the files once it has been dealt with by the English league and the Football Association," Blatter said.

"We will look at this, and not only if we are asked. We will do it anyway."

West Ham were fined a record 5.5 million (US$10.88 million) last month by an independent Premier League commission which ruled that the players' contracts drawn up at their August transfer contravened league rules by giving certain rights to third-party companies.

West Ham, however, admitted the charge and escaped a points deduction that would have almost certainly condemned them to relegation.

Poor season

Instead, West Ham, who had a poor season until the run-in when they won seven of their last nine games with Tevez the key figure, succeeded in escaping the drop after a dramatic final day 1-0 win away to champions Manchester United.

West Ham's success meant Sheffield United, who started the final day level on points, were relegated after a 2-1 home defeat by Wigan Athletic, who also escaped relegation.

Wigan and Sheffield United are now at the head of a group of clubs threatening to challenge the Premier League in the courts over its decision not to dock West Ham points for fielding an illegally registered player.