Clubs could sue over FA QPR ruling
QPR’S Championship rivals could sue for millions of pounds if the west London outfit escape a points deduction over the signing of Alejandro Faurlin, a leading sports lawyer has warned.
A Football Association hearing into seven charges levelled at QPR and Faurlin over the Argentinian midfielder’s signing in 2009 got underway yesterday at Wembley, with a decision due by Friday.
QPR fear they could be stripped of points if found guilty, jeopardising the promotion they thought they had guaranteed with victory over Watford on Saturday.
Andrew Nixon, of Thomas Eggar, believes clubs who miss out on promotion, which is estimated to be worth around £90m, will consider legal action if Rangers are found guilty but keep enough points for automatic promotion. Sheffield United got £20m in compensation from West Ham after ineligible player Carlos Tevez kept the Hammers up in 2007 at the Blades’ expense.
“Such a scenario cannot be ruled out on this occasion,” said Nixon. “And should QPR escape a deduction then clubs who may have failed to reach the play-offs as a result will obviously wish to consider their position, particularly in view of the huge financial windfall involved.”