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Relegating QPR would be the case of Luis Suarez all over
The prisoners dilemma rewards those who are unfair, and at least the English FA doesn’t. However, the FA is threatening to punish their prisoners, Queens Park Rangers, as well as directly putting their spouse in the pound as well. The prisoners dilemma doesn’t go near such a thing. But that’s the problem when any football government starts dishing out punishments. QPR, who released the extent heavy losses for the year ending May 2013, are expected to be subject to heavy fines of up to £40 million once they release their losses this winter, due to Financial Fair Play rules. Fine – it would be drastic considering FFP’s minimal affect so far, but it would stamp other clubs with the message that they mean business. Yet QPR say they will fight whatever fines might come there way. Why? Sure, the FFP rules applying to relegated clubs are broken, but QPR would ultimately be more than likely to lose a potential battle. And what’s at stake, according to The Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey, QPR’s stance in the Football League. They would be relegated all the way down to the English conference.
“Will we fight the fine? What do you think? After all we’ve been through, it’s my middle name – ‘Fight It’ Fernandes.” – QPR chairman Tony Fernandes
But this seems unfair; not for Fernandez, rather, unfair to the clubs supporters who have done, well, nothing wrong. When Luis Suarez bit opponent Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup, he was banned from all footballing activities for four months, even attending practice or watching his club team, then Liverpool and now Barcelona, though the ban has been slightly altered allowing him to at least enter a stadium and practice football. However, the ban still punished parties, particularly Suarez’s club team, that were not even involved. Why not let Suarez play for his club, but be imposed to a heavier ban involving his national team or a personal fine or ban? The same applies for QPR. The FA will be punishing the fans just as much as the club’s hierarchy.
It may just be a threat, but any kind of relegation even to the Championship, without compensation, would still be disastrous for the club and their finances. Andy Glockner makes an excellent point on what relegation does to the fans aside from the more obvious downsides, so instead, the FA should do whatever is in its power to avoid punishing QPR as a whole but their hierarchy as much as they like. The fine is perhaps what they were thinking would be likewise, but as Fernandes is obviously not going to accept a fine they will have to think of another way. All to often parties that have nothing to do with the crime get indirectly punished due to sanctions dished by football organizations. The Suarez case is a prime example, and QPR’s punishment may well be another.
And while it may affect Fernandes’ personal pockets, the QPR fans should at least be given a choice regarding their club’s fate.