Double dose of justice

First, Sheffield United look to have won their long-running case against West Ham for them playing Tevez and Mascherano whilst neither were properly cleared to play. The case is important because United's claim is that they went down at West Ham's expense two years ago as a direct result of the goals Tevez scored that saved the Hammers' bacon. Sheffield finished third bottom and logically had the strongest appeal but Charlton and Watford were humming and hawing about joining them at the time but thought better of it.

The terms of the tribunal were accepted as binding by both clubs prior to undertaking it's assessment and the right of appeal was waived similarly. West Ham don't look to have anywhere to go and the potential damages, which will be weighed up in the coming months are said might reach £30m. This could have a profound affect on West Ham, whose current Icelandic owners have been suffering financially with a collapsing home economy.

The verdict is one that I believe is right and proper but not one that I thought we would ever see. After the Premier League initially fined West Ham £5.5m but decided against any points deduction, I thought that Sheffiled United would be lucky to get any sort of verdict and certainly not one that looks to support such a massive penalty.

Secondly, three cheers for Derby County who today won their case with the Football League to prevent QPR from charging £40 for adults and£30 for concessions for their weekend fixture at Loftus Road. QPR might be vaunted as the richest club in the Championship but you wouldn't know it from the money they haven't splashed around or the way they seem to be treating their long-suffering supporters. How mean for the billionaire owners to attempt to profit this way with their own, long-suffering, fans. Ripping off supporters is one thing but profiteering on "concessions" is disgusting.

It means they can't charge us more than £30 on Boxing Day for the displeasure of queueing at their inadequate turnstiles for a poor view from the Shoe-Box Stand in the tired "stadium." Next season might be a different matter but let's hope the greedy triumvirate have learnt their lesson.