Thaindian News

London, Apr 29 (ANI): Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers look set to be denied automatic promotion to the English Premier League in the wake of evidence suggesting that the club broke strict third-party ownership rules.

QPR currently sit five points clear in first place of the second-tier English football competition, and with just two games remaining in the season appeared certain to finish top, returning to the Premier League for the first time since the 1995-1996 season.

The only winners would be Cardiff and Norwich who could then go up automatically.

The hearing into the signing of the Argentine midfielder two years ago begins next Tuesday and a verdict will be delivered three days later.

The likely points deduction is said to be up to 15 points, which would drop the club back into the play-off positions, leaving Norwich City and Cardiff City as the likely first and second-place finishers and automatic qualifiers.

A four-man panel will comprise an independent QC, two from the FA’s disciplinary panel and a football expert who will be a former player or boss, The Sun reports.

In theory, they should begin with a blank sheet of paper but many at the FA are openly discussing the case and reckon QPR - five points clear at the top of the table - are in big trouble. Those who have seen the evidence say Rangers are defending the indefensible.

“There’s no question QPR have broken the rules. They know it as well. The only debate is what to do about it. If they aren’t found guilty you might as well scrap the rules about third-party owners,” a FA source said.

Some within the corridors of power believe QPR should be hit hard because they were well aware they were acting outside the regulations. (ANI)