English Championship side Sheffield United said on Tuesday a Football Association (FA) appointed arbitration hearing had ruled in their favour of their compensation claim against West Ham over the Carlos Tevez transfer saga.

United were relegated at the end of the 2006-07 season, Tevez making a massive contribution as West Ham clawed their way to safety.

The Argentine striker scored the winner as the Hammers won at Manchester United on the final day of the season to complete their revival at the Blades' expense.

The Premier League fined the Hammers a record 5.5 million pounds ($9 million) for fielding Tevez and compatriot Javier Mascherano despite their being ineligible to play under third-party ownership rules following complex transfers to West Ham.

They were found to have been partially-owned by businessman Kia Joorabchian's Media Sports Investment (MSI) company.

Tevez last year joined Manchester United and Liverpool snapped up Mascherano.

Sheffield United first appealed to the league to be reinstated in the English Premiership but that failed so they instead moved to exact a financial settlement.

In a statement on their official website, www.sufc.co.uk, they said they had been successful.

Media reports said the club want some 30 million pounds ($56 million) for their demotion with chairman Kevin McCabe having previously stated that relegation cost United at least 50 million pounds in lost revenues.

McCabe said: "I can confirm that both clubs have been notified of the ruling. The arbitration panel has awarded in our favor.

"The matter is still legally in process so I do not wish to comment any further until we have completed that process."

A West Ham spokesperson told BBC Radio following the news of the tribunal ruling: "We need to digest the full findings of the arbitration panel and will consult our lawyers on the next steps we might take before making any further comment."

Former Blades boss Neil Warnock, who left Bramall Lane after the club were relegated, said: "It's a matter for justice and I think everyone in the country knows this is the right verdict."

Warnock, now manager of United's second-tier rivals Crystal Palace, commenting on the human as well as financial cost of relegation, also told Sky Sports News: "It was scandalous. It changed one or two lives and it shouldn't have happened. This verdict puts your faith back into the justice system."

An FA statement insisted there was no further right of appeal against this ruling and stressed the governing body had played no part in the verdict.

"The dispute has been heard by a private independent arbitration tribunal set up under the FA's rules.

"The arbitration tribunal is comprised of one member nominated by each club, plus an independent member agreed upon by the two parties.

"All aspects of the arbitration, including publicity, are then a matter for the arbitration tribunal and the two parties concerned.

"For clarity, The FA did not sit in judgement on this case, did not have any influence on the decision and did not appoint any of the tribunal members."

(AFP via China Daily September 25, 2008)