Sheffield United take fight to High Court

Sheffield United have launched an appeal in the High Court claiming the arbitration panel in their case against West Ham made an error in law.

The Premier League yesterday said the Yorkshire club had decided to continue their fight despite Tuesday's decision by a three-man panel to dismiss their claim for a new disciplinary commission to rule on the case.

That decision appeared to confirm the Sheffield club would start next season in the second division, with West Ham in the top flight.

The statement said: "The Premier League has just been advised by our legal team that Sheffield Utd have launched an appeal in the High Court... against the award of our arbitration panel yesterday...

"This is a very narrow window of appeal where Sheffield United are claiming that the (panel) made an error in law by failing to send back the original decision to the Independent Disciplinary Commission for reconsideration."

The Premier League did not expect the appeal to be successful and said that it would "not be altering any plans for next season."