Seagulls seek Tevez clarification

Brighton have waded into the Carlos Tevez saga by writing to the Football Association to seek clarification over the West Ham striker's eligibility to play in their FA Cup third-round clash back in January.

West Ham were fined £5.5million by the Premier League over irregularities surrounding the signings of Tevez and fellow Argentinian Javier Mascherano in August, but an arbitration panel will now be set up after complaints from relegated Sheffield United.

The row centres around the decision not to dock the Hammers points for signing third-party agreements in contravention of league rules. And now Coca-Cola League One side Brighton want to establish whether they have a case for compensation after Tevez played in West Ham's 3-0 victory at Upton Park.

Seagulls chief executive Martin Perry told the Evening Argus: "We have written to the FA but we haven't had a response yet. The issue revolves around whether or not he was eligible, it isn't an issue about ownership as far as we are concerned.

"The fact is the Premier League are insisting he was eligible. In that case, we haven't got anywhere to go.

"It is being investigated now by FIFA, so from our point of view it is a watching brief. We have written for clarification and we will wait and see.

"If the Premier League's position is found to be correct, that he was eligible to play and that the rules broken related to ownership, then we don't have a case.

"If it was found that he wasn't eligible then we will certainly take it further. It all hinges around that single point."

The three-man arbitration panel to rule on Sheffield United's complaints is due to be appointed on Friday but any final decision is not likely before the end of June.