Fulham consider legal action against Hammers

Fulham are reportedly considering legal action of their own following last week's independent arbitration ruling against West Ham.

Fulham and Premier League counterparts Wigan are understood to be investigating the possibility of pursuing a £550,000 claim against the Hammers after Sheffield United won a 16-month legal battle against the East London club last week after their relegation to the Championship in May 2007.

West Ham were originally fined a record £5.5million by the FA, but not deducted any points for fielding Argentina stars Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez, who were in breach of league rules due to third-party ownership issues.

The Hammers plan to appeal the latest ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, after the panel at the ruling decided that Tevez and Mascherano were worth at least three points to the Irons which would have meant West Ham finishing 18th and being relegated to the Championship instead of Sheffield United.

This would also have meant Fulham and Wigan finishing above West Ham and the two Premier League sides are now said to be weighing up legal claims of their own for £550,000, the amount both clubs would have received for finishing one place higher.