Corruption or too many technicalities?

The last few years have been full of football scandals. Drugs, match fixing, street violence, the Italian saga and English football agents have all taken the focus away from on pitch activity. I understand that professionalism has shifted the focus of the premiership somewhat.  The focus of the attention should continue to be sport rather than business.

As well and good as these scandals are in early November I am concerned that scandals like todays €5.5 million fine for West Ham will take something away from the most exciting premiership finale in almost a decade.

Today the hammers avoided points deduction after the apparent irregularities surrounding the transfers of Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez from Corinthians earlier in the season.

When the charges were laid in early February, a Premier League explanation 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.

Official word from West Ham United echoes my sentiments.  “The club regrets the fact that they fell foul of the FA Premier League regulations, but the new owners of the club now want to focus on matters on the pitch and remaining in the Premier League.”

I would never like to sound like a preacher, but most of us would much prefer to focus on the football for the next few weeks so let’s give it a shot.