The headline is what journos want as headlines these days, something to sound contentious & create confusion & derision! Put it another way, was it wrong for our players to get a bonus for that win at Wembley. we paid them a sum of money because we won. That`s a different take on it I know, but the principle is the same.
Now to the point, is it wrong for say, Man. City to pay us to beat Man. Utd. in the last game, so they can win the title, the incentive is there for us to win? It is wrong for Man. Utd. to pay us to lose to them so they can win the title. Two different scenarios, two different outcomes. I`m sure that Man. Utd. would have offered QPR a massive win bonus last game of the season.
It`s a clear response & leaves little or no room for ambiguity, rightly or wrongly. Paying someone to win is OK, paying someone to lose is cheating.