LONDON, July 3 - West Ham United will play in the Premier League next season while Sheffield United will be in the second division after their appeal against relegation was dismissed by an arbitration panel on Tuesday.

Sheffield United had challenged the decision of an independent Premier League commission to fine West Ham United, rather than dock points, for breaking rules when they signed Argentine pair Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez last August.

In a tense finish to last season, West Ham stayed up by winning seven of their last nine league matches, with Tevez scoring six goals in that spell. Sheffield United won only two of their last nine games and went down on the final day.

The three-man arbitration panel's decision to back the Premier League means Sheffield United will now start next season on Aug 11 at home against Colchester United.

West Ham will kick off the new Premier League season at Upton Park against Manchester City.

"We are obviously very disappointed by this conclusion in particular in circumstances where the tribunal recognised that the outcome of the (commission's) decision turned out to be, in the panel's own words, 'unfortunate in the extreme' and that Sheffield United have done nothing to merit this outcome," the Blades said in a statement.

"We are currently considering these findings with our professional advisers."

The arbitration tribunal issued a summary, explaining their verdict and sympathising with the Yorkshire club.

"The tribunal can well understand that in the light of subsequent events the outcome of the (disciplinary) decision turned out to be most unfortunate in the extreme - but the tribunal had to judge it at the time it was taken.

"It concluded for the reasons given that it was impossible for this tribunal to find that the decision was irrational or perverse."

West Ham welcomed the verdict, with chairman Eggert Magnusson saying in a statement: "We are happy that this matter is finally closed and all parties can now move on.

"The arbitration panel's decision is very clear and reflects what we have believed all along."

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