Liverpool buy out Mascherano's contract with businessman

LONDON - LIVERPOOL have completed the signing of Javier Mascherano, after buying out his contract with businessman Kia Joorabchian.

But West Ham are still facing the threat of a points deduction for breaking Premiership rules to allow the Argentina midfielder to play for them earlier this season.

The English League forbids a third party from influencing player transfers.

Mascherano's move from Brazil side Corinthians to West Ham could be deemed illegal as he is contracted to Joorabchian.

In buying out the Argentinian's contract, Liverpool could then sign him in a permanent 18-month deal.

It is said to have cost about £10 million (S$30 million).

Liverpool had initially wanted to sign the player on loan.

When they realised such agreement would be in breach of Premiership rules, manager Rafael Benitez turned to the club's new American owners, George Gillette Jr and Tom Hicks, and urged them to invest in Mascherano.

A Premiership statement said: 'We are satisfied that the contractual arrangements proposed by Liverpool are consistent with the rules; particularly that the relationship between club and player is not subject to third-party influence.'

While Liverpool can now include Mascherano in their plans without any fear of reprisals, West Ham will be sweating over their fate.

One senior football official has told The Daily Mail that they are in big trouble after failing to gain clarification from the Premiership before signing Mascherano and another Argentinian, Carlos Tevez.

Tevez remains the property of Joorabchian.

The Hammers are expected to argue that the club's previous administration - in particular former chief executive Paul Aldridge - were responsible for recruiting the two players.

But an independent commission, appointed to examine the issue, may dismiss the argument.

More so, if there are any documents that reveal that the club's new Icelandic owners did not question the arrangement with Joorabchian when they took over.

For Mascherano, meanwhile, it is now all about impressing Benitez.

If Liverpool decide not to extend his deal beyond the initial 18 months, Joorabchian could be given the option of buying him back.

Meanwhile, Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek has apologised for his role in the team's drunken escapades after a training stint on the Algarve in Portugal last week.

The Polish custodian was restrained by security guards after a row with an off-duty policeman in a bar.