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Picture Sean Bean at Wednesday's meeting.

FAPL LIFE GOES ON WITHOUT BLADES

By Martyn Ziegler, PA Chief Sports Reporter

Click here for more Sheffield United news

The Premier League will publish next season's fixture list on Thursday despite Sheffield United's campaign to overturn their relegation from the top flight.

League chiefs are so confident that next week's arbitration panel will not rule against the Blades' relegation that they have decided not to postpone the fixtures until after the hearing.

It is understood that the league believe the chances are virtually nil that the arbitration panel will order a new disciplinary hearing for West Ham over the Carlos Tevez.

Thursday's fixtures therefore will include West Ham as one of the 20 Premier League clubs and not Sheffield United.

The Blades have reacted by extending their campaign to the political arena with a protest meeting at Westminster on Wednesday backed by local MPs and actor Sean Bean, and a meeting with European Commission representatives on Friday.

Players' union chief executive Gordon Taylor has also backed their stance.

Taylor said: "I think they have a real valid case. I just think it's sad that this has been a shadow hanging over the season.

"There were people involved at West Ham who knew what they were doing and they are the ones who should be held to account.

"If some of them are still in football, then the penalties should apply to them for doing it wrong in the first place."

Blades plc chairman Kevin McCabe is confident of success, but says the club will accept their relegation if the panel finds against them.

However McCabe warned that would not be the end of the issue, and said the Blades could then approach the EC in pursuit of compensation.

McCabe told BBC Radio Five Live: "If the arbitration were to go against us on Monday we recognise that we are relegated to the Championship.

"I wouldn't say that is the end of the issue. We have on Friday a trip to Brussels to meet the European Commissioner for culture and sport, Jan Figel, so we are making our presentation there this week."

Asked about the purpose of going to Brussels, McCabe said: "I suppose compensation. I've no idea how much.

"The real key is the arbitration, to right the wrongs of the injustice that was caused by the first decision. We didn't field ineligible players."

Some MPs are opposing United's attempt to take their battle to Westminster.

Tony McNulty, MP for Harrow East and Home Office minister and a lifelong Hammers fan, said: "The Premier League has dealt with this matter and West Ham has taken its punishment. It's now trying to move on and I'm looking forward to watching Premiership football at Upton Park next season."

FIFA may also not look kindly on any attempt by Sheffield United to take their dispute to the European courts.

FIFA's statutes say: "It is prohibited to take disputes in the Association or disputes affecting Leagues, members of Leagues, clubs, members of clubs, players, officials to ordinary courts of law, unless the FIFA regulations or binding legal provisions specifically provide for or stipulate recourse to ordinary courts of law.

"Instead of recourse to ordinary courts of law, provision shall be made for arbitration."

A senior FIFA source said: "The statutes mean that FIFA do not believe sporting disputes should be settled in a civil court but in a sporting court.

"If they do not agree with the result of the arbitration they should go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne - not to the European Commission."

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