FIFA have admitted they are willing to step-in to help solve the Carlos Tevez crisis.

Manchester United had hoped to sign the Argentine forward from West Ham last week, only for the transfer to be held up by a series of legal wrangles.

Now, however, a FIFA spokesman has admitted world football's governing body could become involved after the situation reached a virtual impasse.

"We have not received any official request from any of the parties so far," said the spokesman.

"If we do receive a request, we would then decide whether we have to look at it or if it is up to the FA to rule on.

"The FA could ask us for guidance and send us all the relevant information."

The issue is centred around who actually owns Tevez.

While the Irons hold the 23-year-old's registration with the Premier League, businessman Kia Joorabchian owns the player's "economic" rights.

Hammers boss Alan Curbishley has said that "whatever happens has got to go through West Ham".

And the Premier League, which fined the Hammers £5.5million in April for signing Tevez and Javier Mascherano on illegal "third-party" contracts last August, has insisted that any transfer fee must go to the East End club.

However, Joorabchian has stated that he should receive the proceeds of any transfer involving his client.