Premier League toughens rules to prevent another Tevez saga

The Premier League has tightened its transfer rules to prevent another Carlos Tevez-style contractdispute.

The Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, said yesterday that the organisation would have to be "more circumspect" when dealing with transfers in future.

"We've changed the rules so that the clubs are in no doubt that they must send any documentation surrounding any deal whether they think it's relevant or not," Scudamore said.

"We want them to let the people who guard the rules make the decisions anddecide what they need."

West Ham United were found guilty in April of withholding vital documentation when the Premier League investigated the transfers of Tevez and Javier Mascherano from Corinthians in August 2006.

The move was engineered by Tevez's adviser, Kia Joorabchian, and the Premier League found the deals broke the rules on third-party ownership. An independent tribunal fined West Ham £5.5 million.

The latest dispute began when Tevez wanted to leave West Ham for Manchester United. West Ham refused to release Tevez's registration but a deal was finally reached on Friday in which West Ham will get £2m from Joorabchian.

United are expected to pay Joorabchian's company, Media Sports Investments, £10m to take Tevez on loan for two years.