Hammers charged

West Ham United have been charged with a breach of Premier League Rules relating to the transfers of Carlos Tevez and Javi Mascherano.

A statement released on the Premier League's website this afternoon read:

"It is the Board’s complaint that there were agreements in relation to both these transfers that enabled third parties to acquire the ability materially to influence the Club’s policies and/or the performance of its teams in League Matches and/or the competitions set out in Rule E.10.

"The Board’s view is this constitutes a breach of Rule U.18, which states: 'No Club shall enter into a contract which enables any other party to that contract to acquire the ability materially to influence its policies or the performance of its teams in League Matches or in any of the competitions set out in Rule E.10.'

"Furthermore, at the time of the transfer agreements for both Tevez and Mascherano, and until January 24, 2007, West Ham United failed to disclose the third-party agreements to the Premier League and/or deliberately withheld these agreements from the Premier League.

"The Board’s view is this constitutes a breach of Rule B.13, which states: 'In all matters and transactions relating to the League each Club shall behave towards each other Club and the League with the utmost good faith.'

United have 14 days in which to respond to the charges.