The saga of the Argentinian star's proposed move from West Ham to Manchester United has become a big bore. The High Court has to get it sorted out.
'There is no doubt United buying Tevez is a big story, and does deserve column inches, but I think it has had enough. There have been so many twists, turns and allegations'
On August 22, just over a week before the end of the transfer window, the long-running saga that is the Carlos Tevez affair finally goes to the High Court in London for resolution. I for one cannot wait for that to happen.
Every summer there is one transfer deal that drags out across the off-season, filling endless column inches with gossip, rumour and speculation. The past couple of seasons it has been Thierry Henry’s protracted flirting with Barcelona, but with that deal finally complete, this year Tevez has taken the headlines as he tries to secure a dream move to Manchester United.
There are several reasons I would like to see this transfer resolved; firstly, and most trivially, it's getting boring. Secondly, this affair just reinforces the murkiness and bad reputation English football has been acquiring of late. And finally, it needs to be resolved because this issue will occur again - though for the sake of football, this circus cannot be repeated.
There is no doubt the brilliant Argentinian will be a great signing for Manchester United, so no blame must be attached to them for pursuing it. But please just get the deal done sooner rather than later!
There is no doubt United buying Tevez is a big story, and does deserve column inches, but I think it has had enough. There have been so many twists, turns and allegations that there has been something nearly every day since the end of the season.
Now rumours are fun, and speculation about transfers is entertaining. But this saga has become ridiculous and tiresome as all parties involved, especially West Ham and Tevez’s agent Kia Joorabchian, have engaged in claim and counter claim through the media. It is bordering on bringing the game into disrepute as allegations of lying and manipulation run riot. It just needs to come to an end. We have had enough.
This saga just reinforces the impression that the world of football transfers is a murky and unpleasant one, often flirting with severe bending and breaking of the rules. In the light of the BBC Panorama programme on bungs, and the general speculation surrounding football, this protracted deal cannot be healthy.
It was hoped Lord Steven’s Quest enquiry would begin to draw a line under the unpleasant workings of the transfer market and see the beginnings of some transparency and honesty. Sadly, the massive publicity surrounding this transfer (and Sheffield United’s relegation) undermines much of the work done to improve the situation.
It also brings into question the Javier Mascherano transfer to Liverpool - how could that have gone through so easily when he was brought to Upton Park under the same conditions as Tevez, owned by Joorabchian? I’m not suggesting Liverpool have done anything wrong. I would just like to know why the discrepancy?
Finally, the fact none of the football authorities were willing to rule on the issue (including FIFA) is also problematic as we are left wondering who has authority to control transfers in the English game. Companies and agents owning players is common place in the South American leagues, and it has been detrimental for both the clubs, who lose money, and many young players who are shipped abroad too early in order to turn a quick profit.
With more players being brought over and at a younger and younger age, this situation will only repeat itself and the unwillingness of the football authorities to take a stand is concerning. Hopefully the High Court ruling will provide something on which the gutless hierarchy of football can build upon and take forwards to avoid having to deal with the same mess in the future.
Should the Premier League or FIFA have had the guts to stand up and be counted? Should West Ham be congratulated for their stand? Have you had enough or thie Tevez saga or do you want more? Comments below, please, or submit an article of your own to Sportingo.