KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — Queens Park Rangers owner Tan Sri Tony Fernandes has slammed reports over possible record-breaking fines that could be imposed on the club.
“No more (comments). It is all rubbish. It is gutter press,” said Fernandes, without wanting to comment further.
The aviation tycoon was peeved with UK’s Mail report on Sunday suggesting QPR could face a fine of £62 million (RM320m) — the biggest in British football history — due to the alleged losses by the club last season, believed to be £80m (RM413m).
It was reported the huge debt was due to the massive wages of several QPR signings. Among them were South Korea’s Park Ji-Sung, Frenchman Christopher Samba, Englishman Jermain Jenas and Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar. The players were reported to have earned salaries of more than £100,000 (RM514,000) per week.
Fernandes had on Sunday tweeted on his personal Twitter account @tonyfernandes: “QPR fans please ignore Article. Shows how big our brand has become that people need to write stories that are just not accurate Stay focused on getting back to the premier league.”
This was followed by another tweet that read: “Please check the definition of brand. QPR IS A FOOTBALL club but it’s becoming globally known club and brand.”
The club were relegated to the Championship this season but are currently lying third behind Burnley and Leicester City on 32 points. According to the Mail, the fine will be levied in January 2015 if Harry Redknapp’s side were to return to the Premier League at the end of this season.
However, if they fail to make the cut, the fine could be postponed but they would be hit with a transfer embargo.
