The controversy over ‘who owned Carlos Tevez’ opened the Pandora’s box and all the murky deals afflicting the football world have come out into the open. Media Sports Investment [MSI] initially moved Carlos Tevez from Brazil’s Corinthians to West Ham United in August 2006 and both MSI and West Ham claimed the ownership over Carlos Tevez.

Premier League rules do not allow third parties to take ownership of the players because of the tremendous influence they wield over the competition, which would kill the very spirit of the game. Thus they slapped West Ham United a fine of £5.5 million for its third party dealings over signing of Carlos Tevez and further allowed the West Ham to sign with Carlos properly.

This year when Carlos Tevez showed interest in playing for Manchester United, the ownership controversy again raised its ugly head with both the parties MSI and West Ham United claiming lordship over Carlos Tevez. As the deadline for transfer of players looming large on their heads both the parties agreed to an out of court settlement. MSI paid £2 million to West Ham United to release his registration and became an absolute owner of Carlos Tevez. MSI in turn received £10 million as a loan deal from Manchester United, with an option to buy Carlos Tevez for £20 million.

What if the deadlock has not been broken between the warring parties, who will be the loser? West Ham United, Media Sports Investment, Manchester United or Carlos Tevez himself? All these shady deals indulged in by middlemen in sports show how deeply the corruption has set in the world of football with players losing their individuality and being sold like a trading commodity in the market.

It looks like pounds and dollars are ruling the world of football like any other sport, rather than players and their charismatic playing style. It is high time the football committees over the world like UEFA, FIFA and FA do something to restore the lost glory of the game.

Interestingly United Manchester’s chief executive David Gill has called on FIFA to clarify the rules regarding third-party ownership.