McCabe slams league in Hammers row

The Premier League are treating clubs threatening legal action over the West Ham affair "like lepers", according to Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe.

United are one of four sides disgruntled at the punishment handed out to the Hammers for irregularities in the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

McCabe wants the Premier League to admit they got the punishment - a £5.5million fine but no points dediction - wrong and he told the Daily Mail: "Why don't the Premier League stand up and say 'we've got it wrong'? We haven't been fielding illegal players. Why are they treating us like lepers? It's as if we're the ones doing something wrong when all we've done is act in a proper and professional way."

He added: "Most of football is supporting the fact that the Premier League have got it wrong and that the grievances of the four clubs are logical grievances and not borne of sour grapes.

"After all, we haven't fielded illegal players. Maybe if we'd had Tevez and Mascherano playing for us, we'd have 58 points now instead of 38.

"But all the clubs around the bottom of the table have stuck by Premier League rules. West Ham haven't and could prosper, leaving another cub to suffer greatly.

"We've sent letters asking further questions. We don't expect to get relegated but we will support the club that does.

"I'm not really an emotional character but this is totally unjust. It undermines the credibility of football."