The Championship league leaders, Queens Park Rangers have been charged on seven accounts by the Football Association over player ownership regulations. The Club have since released a statement contesting the charges but it has created speculation over the possible punishment the West London side could face if they are found guilty. With Rangers currently 7 points clear at the top of the Football League, there is a chance that they could face a deduction of points which would seriously harm promotion to the Premier League. The news relates to the saga at West Ham United in 2008 when they were fined by the Premier League for the third-party ownership of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, but the club escaped any points deduction. Could QPR face a more severe punishment because they are a Football League club?
The charges were made regarding the signing of Argentinean midfielder, Alejandro Faurlin in 2009 which cost the club around £3.4 million, it involved a deal with a third party, reportedly an Italian agent, for the player’s economic rights, and the club failed to notify the FA of the arrangement. Other charges to the club and Chairman, Gianni Paladini involve payment to an unauthorised agent following Faulin’s contract extension last October.
A club statement last night said ‘QPR and Mr Paladini are confident that there has been no deliberate wrongdoing involved’ after requesting a formal FA hearing over the alleged charges. However, if the FA find that the charges are correct the club could face a deduction of points which would please the other high-flyers in the Championship who are also in contention for promotion this season.
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In 2008 Luton Town were deducted 10 points over irregular payments made to agents over three players which coincided with two other 10 point deductions and the club started the 2008-09 season on minus 30 points. The penalty was seen as extremely harsh on the club but the Football League looked to use the case as a precedent to warn other clubs of doing the same.
However, West Ham United were not deducted points over the Tevez and Mascherano saga in 2008 which would’ve resulted in relegation from the Premier League. Sheffield United, who were relegated that season contested to be reinstated but their claim was rejected and the club went for a financial settlement. If Rangers are not deducted points, other teams in the Championship could appeal and sue QPR just like the case of Sheffield United.
As a Rangers fan myself, I am gutted to hear that these charges have been made against the club especially in a season that could be one of the best in our recent history. Since supporting Rangers as a very young boy, I’ve seen us relegated twice before a promotion in 2004, and this season is looking to make those odds even again.
Although I am not surprised in the slightest over these allegations as we’re a club that likes to do things the hard way, always shooting ourselves in the foot when it looks like the future is bright. Especially since Gianni Paladini became involved with the club in 2003, there have been an abundance of incidents and rumours that were not positive for the club, however he did attract the big money investors like Flavio Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal to Loftus Road and it’s one of the reasons why we are currently top of the league.
The other factor has been the appointment of Neil Warnock a year ago and unlike previous managers, Warnock was given the freedom to do what he does best, manage and form a winning team ready for promotion. It’ll be a huge shame, not just for us R’s fans but also for Neil Warnock, his coaching staff and the players if the Football League do decide to deduct points this season and the chances of promotion are severely damaged.
However, on the positive side, the initial charges over the Faurlin transfer occurred prior to the FA’s rules about third-party ownership of a player and a fine would seem more likely. Although the charges over Faurlin’s contract extension could receive more punishment as it occurred during the current season. All in all, as a QPR fan, I knew that a successful promotion campaign wouldn’t be smooth and plain sailing given our history but it’s quite comforting to be back biting nails on the fate of our club because in my 25 years of supporting Rangers, it’s all I’ve ever really known.
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