West Ham handed record £5.5m fine

I agree with you Lumps.

The transfer should have been deemed void once it was apparent West Ham had broken the rule. Which is where I was coming from, what I hadn't realised was that the whole thing hinges around the third party having influence over the player regarding the get out clauses rather than a straightforward 'no 3rd party owned players' rule.

It has been proven that this rule was breached. It has been proven West Ham only came clean at the last possible minute. The PL have fudged the outcome becuase deducting points would cause West Hams relagation. In the process they have now set a precedance for all and sundry to do the same as West Ham. Cheat.