The promotion celebrations of Queens Park Rangers fans were truncated yesterday after Norwich scored a last minute goal, denying the West London side the certainty of promotion. However, given the current state of the table and the remaining fixtures it would require a bizarre combination of results to stop the Super Hoops going up.
The promotion celebrations of Queens Park Rangers fans were truncated yesterday after Norwich scored a last minute goal, denying the West London side the certainty of promotion. However, given the current state of the table and the remaining fixtures it would require a bizarre combination of results to stop the Super Hoops going up.
However, promotion could still be in jeopardy. Last month the FA charged the club and Gianni Paladini, the chairman, with seven counts of breaking transfer rules and supplying false information relating to the arrival of Alejando Faurlin in 2007 and the renegotiation of his contract last year. It is alleged that the midfield player’s registration was held by a private company in Argentina until October last year, in breach of regulations against third-party ownership.
The hearing will begin on May 3rd and a verdict is expected on May 6th, the day before the final game of the season. Hull’s equaliser yesterday denied QPR two points that could be crucial in the event of a points deduction.
A heavy fine and a nominal points deduction is the most likely income. If a substantial points deduction put QPR into the play-off places it could cause all sorts of complications. Legal challenges might mean that the play-offs would have to be suspended.
A broader issue is that Latin American clubs often can’t afford to develop their players and sell their contracts to agents who can supply the funds to do so. Perhaps the rules need to recognise this reality.