Iceland-owned English football (soccer) club West Ham was fined ISK 709 million (USD 11 million, EUR 8 million) for the illegal club exchange of Argentinean players Carlos Tévez and Javier Mascherano, who were recruited in August.
The players were recruited before Icelandic entrepreneurs Björgólfur Gudmundsson and Eggert Magnússon invested in West Ham. The club’s management was found guilty of withholding important documents about the club exchange, as reported in Fréttabladid.
This is by far the largest fine in the history of the English Premier League, topping Tottenham’s fine of ISK 193 million (USD 3 million, EUR 2 million) from 1994.
“The main thing is that we didn’t lose any points,” Magnússon said. “It is perfectly clear that this happened before we took over the club and therefore we will look at this very closely. It is not certain that we will appeal.”
Mascherano now plays for Liverpool while Tevez is still with West Ham. But the club will have to renew Tevez’ contract if he is to keep playing for West Ham.
West Ham is in grave danger of dropping out of the Premier League, but won an important game against Wigan on Saturday, 3 to 0. According to mbl.is, with the victory West Ham switched seats with Charlton and is now in the third bottom seat in the league.
There are three rounds left in the Premier League and the three bottom teams will be excluded from the league’s next season.
Click here to read more about West Ham.
