LONDON - Sheffield United lost their High Court action on Friday when they were refused leave to appeal against the Premier League arbitration panel's decision on the Carlos Tevez affair.

The arbitration panel had upheld the Premier League's decision to fine West Ham 5.5 million pounds ($11.17 million) for breaking transfer rules in the signing of Tevez and fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano, who has since moved to Liverpool.

Sheffield United, who were relegated, wanted West Ham to be docked points and had sought to overturn their own relegation.

On Friday the High Court ruled that there had been no error in law with the panel's decision.