12/18/24
April 29, 2011
Hold that promotion?: This morning's Sun claims that current Championship leaders QPR are set to be hit with a 15-point penalty and denied automatic promotion to the Premier League for breaking third-party ownership and agent licensing rules related to the transfer of Argentine midfielder Alejandro Faurlin in 2009. QPR only need a point from this weekend's match to seal an automatic spot; the League's decision is set to be announced next week.
Ah, The Sun.
The most accurate newspaper in Britain. Apart from all the other ones.
posted by owlhouse at 01:20 AM on April 30, 2011
Normally, I'd agree, but that story reads like one of the League's honchos was blabbing to Shaun Custis in the boozer, and you can well imagine that the powers that be are dreading a choice between enforcing the rules on third-party ownership and making a mess of the promotion race.
posted by etagloh at 02:21 PM on April 30, 2011
Even a 15 point deduction would probably leave them in a playoff spot. So even if turns out to happen not killer to promotion.
posted by billsaysthis at 05:51 PM on May 01, 2011
West Ham only got fined for a similar breach, I seem to recall.
posted by owlhouse at 09:39 PM on May 01, 2011
QPR's response, via Twitter: "QPR's lawyers have written to the FA requesting they instigate an investigation into the alleged source of the article in today's Sun."
And with the Championship season ending next weekend, and 16 points currently separating first and sixth place, a points penalty and any subsequent appeal would throw the post-season playoffs into chaos.