Fifa may not rule on Tevez saga

By Saj Chowdhury

Tevez is keen to move to Old Trafford

Fifa says it may not have the authority to intervene in the Carlos Tevez saga.

Manchester United and West Ham have asked world football's governing body to settle a dispute over who owns the 23-year-old Argentine striker.

Fifa held a meeting with the Football Association on Monday but had yet to make a decision whether they would help in resolving the affair.

Earlier, Fifa's Andreas Herren told BBC Sport: "We will have to find out if we can rule on the matter."

The Tevez dispute revolves around his ownership, with suitors Manchester United unsure who to pay a reported £30m fee.

Fifa does not carry such an explicit prohibition of third-party ownership Fifa spokesman Andreas Herren

Tevez is registered as a West Ham player, but businessman Kia Joorabchian claims he owns the striker's economic rights and is therefore entitled to any transfer fee.

However, the Hammers ripped up an agreement they had with Joorabchian - which broke Premier League rules - and they now claim any deal with United can only go ahead with their say-so.

The Premier League is also insisting that any fee must go to West Ham.

However, Herren said that Fifa does not have such a strict ruling on third-party ownership in contrast to the Premier League.

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"I know third-party ownership is not favoured in England, but national legislation varies from one country to another and we do not specifically look after the interests of one country's football organisation," added Herren.

"According to our lawyers, Fifa does not carry such an explicit prohibition of third-party ownership as in England."

If Fifa opts to take on the case then the organisation's Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) will come into play.

"The DRC will only be employed once the Fifa administration has analysed the case and the documentation has been submitted by all parties," said Herren.

"It is made up of the player's and the club's representatives in order to ensure all parties are represented."