Sheffield United's bid to escape relegation faces a delay of up to 10 days - by which time the Blades may be embroiled in a separate row over striker Steve Kabba.
An arbitration panel today finished hearing the case brought by Sheffield United, who claimed West Ham should have been docked points over the Carlos Tevez affair.
A decision is due before the end of the month but it has today been confirmed by the Premier League they are investigating the transfer of Kabba from the Blades to Watford.
It has been claimed Sheffield United insisted Watford, who bought Kabba for £500,000 during the January transfer window, could not play the striker against them at Bramall Lane in April - a match Watford lost.
Such clauses are not permitted in transfers between Premier League clubs and though a similar situation occurred with Everton keeper Tim Howard against his old club Manchester United, those clubs escaped disciplinary action as there was no formal agreement between them.
The row threatens to overshadow the Blades' fight to avoid relegation.
Sheffield United plc chairman Kevin McCabe wants a decision as soon as possible.
He emerged from the hearing to read a statement which said: "I'd like to thank the tribunal. It's been a very complicated case, and the panel are going away to review the evidence and submissions.
"We have been told to expect a decision by the end of the month, hopefully sooner."
The longer the saga continues however, the more remote the chances appear of West Ham being forced to submit to another disciplinary hearing.
League insiders believe if United's lawyers had been confident of success in a court battle they would have sought an injunction to prevent next season's fixture lists being issued last week.
The panel have to determine two matters: whether the decision by an independent disciplinary commission on April 27th to fine West Ham rather than dock points was so legally flawed that a fresh disciplinary commission needs to sit, and whether the Premier League acted unlawfully by not de registering Tevez. PA
