LONDON (AP):

West Ham won its relegation fight on the final day of the Premier League season. Today, five weeks after the last game was played, Sheffield United will try to get the Hammers kicked out.

The Premier League fined West Ham for acquiring Argentina striker Carlos Tevez from Brazilian club Corinthians after it was discovered his contract was owned by a third party West Ham admitted that it broke the rules, Tevez continued to play and his goals helped the team avoid relegation.

Sheffield United dropped down instead and now the Blades will argue before an independent arbitration panel that West Ham should have been docked points as well as fined.

United say the Hammers, who were fined 5.5 million (US$10.9 million; euro8.1 million), were wrong to continue fielding Tevez, who is debating whether to stay in English soccer or move elsewhere.

"I think we are very confident of winning," Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe said yesterday. "We have a compelling case that's based upon an irrational decision given by the first independent commission that was set up. We would not have pursued going to arbitration unless we thought we would win.

Rules

"It's the fact one club that has not breached the rules has been relegated while another club that has breached the rules has retained its Premiership status and that's the key argument."

But a report yesterday said United also breached league rules by selling Steve Kabba to Watford with the proviso that the striker didn't play against them in a subsequent match.

Such arrangements are frequently arranged with loan deals. But Kabba moved to Watford in a full transfer in January and the Premier League rules say there can be no contractual terms to prevent a player from facing a former club.

McCabe said there was nothing in the contract that Kabba shouldn't play against the Blades the two managers may have agreed between them.

"I am sure there won't be a clause in the contract," he said. "The contract transferring Steve Kabba from Sheffield to Watford was one that was open, was honest and was properly looked at by the Premier League and registered. There is no grey area on that whatsoever.

"There are a few incidents, there must be dozens and dozens these last few years, where there may be gentleman's agreements between managers that, in fairness, the clubs probably know nothing about."

There was a similar incident involving American goalkeeper Tim Howard, whose loan move from Manchester United to Everton was turned into a full transfer in February. But Howard was left out of the Everton line-up in April at United's request and the Red Devils won the game 3-2 on the way to winning the title.