West Ham fans to taunt Sheffield Utd with Tevez masks… but Blades chief claims they saved Hammers from bankruptcy
Posted Friday, October 25, 2019 by Thesun.co.uk
WEST HAM fans plan to taunt old foes Sheffield United by wearing Carlos Tevez masks on Saturday.
But ex-Blades owner and chairman Kevin McCabe revealed the Hammers could have gone bust over their bitter Tevezgate dispute.
Thirteen years after the Carlos Tevez saga, West Ham fans will be out in force with masks to taunt old rivals Sheffield United
Argentina striker Carlos Tevez arrived in England with West Ham but went on to play for both Manchester giants
The clubs clash for their first Premier League meeting since Sheffield United took West Ham to court over the controversial signing of Tevez and fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano on deadline day in August 2006.
The East End club ended up paying an out-of-court settlement of £20million in compensation to the Blades after a legal wrangle.
West Ham were also fined £5.5m by the Premier League for breaching rules on third-party ownership.
But they avoided a points deduction after Tevez had helped them pull off a Great Escape to avoid relegation at the Bramall Lane club's expense.
'WE SUFFERED'
Back then, West Ham's Icelandic owners were in deep financial trouble due to the collapse of their country's banking system.
McCabe revealed a generous nature with the settlement figure.
He said: "We set the amount. We sorted it out rather than letting the panel decide. I wanted to do that because even though we'd been wronged, I really did feel it was the right thing to do.
"We came to an arrangement in good spirit. I had no interest in seeing a club potentially go out of business. I don't think that's what football should be about.
"Yes, we felt entitled to something because we'd suffered and didn't agree with how things had been handled.
"But people should always remember just how important football clubs are to the communities they represent.
"I always enjoyed going to West Ham.
"I felt they were like the Sheffield United of London, a working-class club with no airs or graces, who were a huge part of the community in their area and, like us, had a tradition for producing players."
The Blades spent 12 years outside the top flight before getting promoted in May.
The clubs have only met once since and that was in the League Cup at Upton Park in 2014 when, after a 1-1 draw, the visitors won 5-4 on penalties.
Home fans mocked their opponents that night by wearing Tevez masks.
But McCabe, who lost his struggle for control of United with Prince Abdullah last month, says he bears no ill will.
McCabe added: "Any differences between the two clubs are now a thing of the past."
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