Scudamore offended by allegations

Richard Scudamore has labelled the claim that the Premier League are biased towards West Ham as "one of the most offensive things I've heard".

The top-flight's chief executive insists the punishment handed out to the Hammers for irregularities in the contracts of Argentina pair Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano were decided by an independent commission with no agenda whatsoever.

"I don't get offended by much in this job but I find the suggestion that we wanted to keep West Ham in at the expense of so-called smaller clubs one of the most offensive things I've heard," Scudamore said in the Daily Mail.

Charlton, Fulham, Sheffield United and Wigan have all threatened legal action over the decision to fine West Ham £5.5million but not dock them any points.

Scudamore added: "The idea that we'd manipulate who's in the League and who isn't is so ridiculous, it's nonsensical.

"Do we want Reading or Wigan in the Premiership? Too right we do because they won the Championship."

Scudamore can appreciate the desperation of all involved.

He said: "With the League being as good as it is and with it being as lucrative as it is, people are desperate to stay in it.

"It's an emotive time and people are hanging on to the Premier League by any means they can.

"You have to remain phlegmatic about it - that's what all this is about."