West Ham United's season was plunged into further turmoil last night when they were charged by the English Premier League for breaching rules over the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano

The club have vowed to "vigorously defend" themselves after being accused of breaching two regulations, U6 and U18, which forbid third-party player ownership from potentially influencing events at the destination club.

The Premier League claims that when West Ham signed the Argentinian pair from Corinthians on deadline day last August they had agreements in place with the players' representatives, who could determine such factors as when the players were sold and when they were played.

A Premier League statement said: "It is the board's complaint that there were agreements in relation to both these transfers that enabled third parties to acquire the ability materially to influence the club's policies and/or the performance of its teams in League matches and/or the competitions set out in Rule E10. The board's view is this constitutes a breach of rule U18."

The Premier League also says that West Ham were asked to provide details of their agreement with Tevez and Mascherano's representatives - they are linked with Media Sports Investment - but these were not forthcoming.

The Premier League alleges that the problem was brought to light when Liverpool attempted to sign Mascherano at the beginning of the January transfer window. Liverpool hoped to sign him on the terms he was on at West Ham before the governing body intervened.

West Ham then came forward with the required information. If they had submitted such information when the transfers were completed last year, the Premier League said, the duo would have been ineligible to play for them.

West Ham's response will be heard by a disciplinary commission, possible punishment ranging from a fine to a points deduction which would all but consign West Ham to relegation.

Guardian Service