Charles Sale/Daily Mail

FA comes under pressure over QPR inquiry after club is confirmed as champions

The fall-out from the FA’s collapsed third-party ownership case against Championship title winners QPR will heap more pressure on English football’s beleaguered ruling body.

Rangers are hugely critical of the way the FA waited until March to press charges, even though the club brought the matter to their attention in September, and then tried to rush the hearing date to avoid any end-of-season uncertainty.

QPR lawyer Chris Farnell out manoeuvred the FA because barrister Craig Moore, the tribunal chairman, agreed the club needed a proper amount of time to prepare their defence against such serious allegations, which included calling witnesses from Argentina, Spain and Italy.

The FA’s failure to convince a panel selected by themselves on five of seven charges also adds credence to Rangers’ claim that the matter could have been sorted out without the expense and disruption of such a high-profile hearing. There are also complaints about FA inter-departmental bureaucracy slowing down the process. Uncertainty over when details of the case will be published only adds to the shambles.

The FA say it was ‘right and proper’ to bring the charges and QPR’s fine of £875,000 is the biggest handed out by the organisation.

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PALIOS OFF THE MARK

Former FA chief executive Mark Palios, who has become a lot more available to the media now than he ever was at Soho Square, has upset the FA with his rent-a-quote comments on the QPR saga, ranging from wrongly speculating there would be a big points deduction to calling for a more independent tribunal.

But Palios has a point about the FA-controlled make-up of the regulation commission, although it had no board members on it as he was suggesting. The quartet were barrister chairman Craig Moore, FA councillors Peter Hough and Brian Jones and former footballer Colin Murdock. The panel was put together by FA staff members Darren Bailey and Mark Ives and disciplinary committee chief Maurice Armstrong. ...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footbal....l#ixzz1Lo4bNyoh

 

that Palios is doing my nut. Who cares what he thinks his opinion counts for nothing!

 

If the Rs end up paying the FA that £875k or without getting the larger part back, I'll change my name to InvernessR!

I cannot see us appealing against the decision but rather taking aggressive action relating to the FA's negligence in charging us with offences without proper investigation and consideration of implications (the 'legal minefield' etc.).

Anyone even vaguely interested in matters legal knows that there's a bit more to prosecuting a case than looking at a self-confessed liar like Paladini, guessing incorrectly as it turns out, who he actually lied to (them, the FA or us, the fans), trawling through the rule book cross referencing associated offences and then issuing charges on that basis.

The timing of the hearing, secrecy of the criteria and the arbitrary nature of the appropriate sanctions, can each be said to have been extremely, if not potentially fatally damaging to the Rs' campaign this season. Just check our results before and after news of the charges was published...

The fines imposed were almost entirely related to bringing the game into disrepute. From what I've heard so far, I cannot for the life of me see where they got that one from! The only other charge proven was the use of an unregistered agent (for which a comparitively minor fine was imposed).

On a lesser note, how 'independent' is an inquiry where all members are paid by the prosecutor and two of the four are employees? Whole thing whiffs a bit don't it?

If Rangers aren't able to successfully claim damages against the FA, at least to the tune of the fines imposed, something's gravely wrong on our side too.

 

Agree the fine seems way too high to me as well.

 

I think that the FA really do need to issue some clarity with how they reach decisions: not just ours on Saturday and why leave it till just before kick-off to issue a verdict, when, they had all necessary information as far back as September last year. They also need to clarify their fit and proper owners test, and why they allow clubs to overspend as in Portsmouth. Also the points deductions and how they reached decisions for Luton and Swindon. Why do the FA allow some managers to get away with critising referees befores games which probably influences games. We as fans pay the FA wages, and personally, as far as I am concerned the FA stans for Fooking Amateurs. Also, as so far as Swansea and Cardiff, why don't they join the FA rather than rely of the FAW. the FA and RAW have differing rules meaning that their never is a level playing field.

As a QPR fan, I had a feeling that there was only ever going to be a fine, however, I did expect Paladini to receive a ban / punishment. If I was a Swansea or Cardiff fan I would probably be feeling a bit miffed at the decision but then would I have all the information? And would I want to join the FA - probably not.

It must be time for an overhall at the FA and get people in who can run the organisation effectively and sensibly. Ex players and managers and maybe ex referees could or should be brought in, and as a thought, a full list of crimes and punishments (or at least a for example - you can be deducted points for playing unregistered player anything from 1 to 20).

 

You're right ninj, as controlling body for such a popular, populous and highly commercial activity, the FA certainly must get their act together.

If they need a catalyst for change, looks like it's down to us at the moment to provide one. Nothing like a litigious kick in the unmentionables to get them off their secretaries and into due process!

However, punishments must always apply to the offender(s) exclusively and fit the crime. For me, points deductions are unjust for non-sporting offences. It must be fines, or if unmanageable, bankruptcy against financial offenders providing opportunities for buy-outs of shares owns by disqualified directors.

 

To the tune of "were top of the league"
incompetent ****s.... incompetent ****s...
there called the F A....incompetent ****s...