The voice of the little guy is something that has never been taken too seriously in the world of English football. If it doesn’t make money, the idea it has are probably not right for the FA’s balanced and open minded ethos..
Last week, after we had all forgotten about West Ham acquiring Argentinian duo Carlos Teves and Javier Mascherano in an indecent manner, the saga continued.
Sheffield United rightly pursued the case and are now crossing their fingers that the £30-38 million in compensation promised to them will be upheld by the arbitration court.
Vasts sums of money could have been saved, plunged into grass roots football, or donated to charity, if the FA had listened to the wise words of Neil Warnock and Sheffield United. Back in 2006 the
"We were appalled by the original verdict," Warnock said. "It was scandalous. It changed one or two lives and it shouldn't have happened. The club itself is geared up for the top level and it knocked us back no end. I think we would be doing very well [in the Premier League]. It [relegation] is on my CV, which it shouldn't be."
So why, after two years did the FA actually pull its finger out. Well, it didn’t.
United went to an independent arbitrator for the case, and the FA admitted: ‘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’
It is obvious for us to see that the FA would never support the relegation of a rich, glamourous club like West Ham. They would rather fund their outlandish lifestyle by fining a club that has more than its share of money, and make a little profit from an awkward situation.
Clearly money talks, and that’s why this will probably happen again. Let’s just hope Neil Warnock’s not involved next time or we won’t make it out the other side.
