Whelan and Jewell unhappy with Hammers punishment

Last updated : 30 April 2007 By Paul Farrington
Paul Jewell: Unhappy with West Ham's fine
Both Paul Jewell and Dave Whelan have spoken out about the fine handed to West Ham United for fielding two ineligable players. The standard punishment is a points deduction, but for some reason, the Hammers were only fined in monetary terms.

"I heard rumours that if West Ham had been marooned, they would have had points deducted," Jewell said. "I'd bet you my last penny that if it had been Watford, they would have had points deducted. The Premier League were desperate for West Ham to be marooned — an insider told one of my people, 'Please beat West Ham because the Premier League know they bottled it.'

"If the Premier League have found out that Tévez is owned by a third party, they might have to look at one or two other London clubs who are high up in the table. They have set a dangerous precedent, but I think they are frightened of what they would find if they looked at some other clubs.

"Tévez is a good player and I don't want this to sound like sour grapes, but what would have happened if I had played [Luis Antonio] Valencia, who was suspended today?"
Jewell said. "If it would have just been a fine, then whatever fine it was would have been worth it because it could have kept us in the Premiership.

"My players were nervous and devoid of ideas and energy. The occasion seemed to get to them. We were poor defensively and we didn't do anything going forward."


While chairman Dave Whelan commented: "The Premier League have now established that no one can ever be docked points unless a club goes into receivership and then it's an automatic ten-point deduction.

"The rules are the rules and if this breach doesn't merit the docking of points, then let's make it clear - nothing does. That's fine by me. Let everyone be treated the same, I say. A precedent has been set."


If these words are placed into the same sentence, you can draw your own conclusions... FA, Trevor Brooking, West Ham, no points deducted, survival chance.