http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/2011/QPR-written-reasons http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2366776,00.html
Although a lengthy "summary" and written in legalise it's actualy an interesting read. Compared to some legal papers I've read it's very clearly written, you just need patience to wade through it. As the expert assessing the sporting advantage gained David Plea has done us proud, his statement that the impact a player may have had can only be applied to exceptional players, like Messi, is spot on and plain common sense - clearly helped us avoid a points deduction. Well done David.
A good summation by Clive W. http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/fb_news.php?storyid=12652
An interesting read, and there's a good explanation of why the disrepute charge brought a fine of £800,000 (something I'd wondered about): From the document (page 66): "The Commission concluded that if the Club had had to go into the open transfer market in or around July 2009, in order to acquire a midfield player with similar playing credentials to the Player, but who was similarly untried and untested in the Championship, a fee in the region of £200,000 would have been required. After just over a season, and having proved himself at Championship level - so much so, that he was named the Club’s player of the year - and adjusted to life in England, the Commission considered that his likely market value would have increased to approximately £1,000,000. On that basis, the added value in the Player, or accrued benefit, was £800,000." at least we know that this wasn't just a 'big number pulled out of the air', which was what I initially thought they had done.
More worrying, was the bit about a sporting advantage was gained. Swansea to win the play-offs please.
I didn't think it was interesting read, it was a very long and quite boring read, but having endured and read at least some of it, how we avoided a points deduction I'm not sure... A crucial letter with an 'incorrect' date on it was basically put over as case of human error, but the human who typed it 'was on holiday and uncontactable' and was not interviewed, its pretty smelly. Palladini comes out of it looking like the buffoon he is, how he can still be responsible for tying his own laces is beyond me. I think we were very lucky, a case of the FA simply not being able to prove some of their points and a robust defence with a straight bat seems to have been enough.
With the club's secretary and solicitor never being consulted this was never a case against QPR, it was a case against Paladini... ineptitude is used as a thinly veiled euphemism for criminally deceitful: an agent who reckons he didn't know FIFA registered agents needed to also register with the FA - like **** he didn't! In any other arena Paladini's lying through his teeth. On top of everything else, Paladini's paid his agent mate £200k for a video, a couple of chats and an airline ticket - and only when things were looking more legit... That we got out of this without a points deduction now beats me.
Agreed. When I read through it, (And I've only got to point 5.51) I started thinking we could still be in trouble with this.....
If 'trouble with this' were to mean going back a league or two: what price Ecclestone's QPR then? Sod it, come on Reading do your worst and help get these friggin' monkeys off our back!
The decision is final and can't be reversed I'm sure. But with the words of "having gained an unfair advantage" being used, Swansea may decide that they could go for the FA. This is unlikely for several reasons, firstly it probably wouldn't go down well with the FA seeing as they are letting the welsh clubs play in their league, bringing legal action against the FA could end up with the FA telling Swansea to play in the Welsh league. Also it would cost them too much with too much risk. If they lost they would be in real trouble with no hope of being able to buy anyone next season. It was made clear by the inquiry that they were taking their time to make sure this was heard properly and that all evidence was heard. This should just make it clear that no one can question the findings. It's over!
