p17 2_Layout 1 9/16/14 10:23 PM Page 1 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2014 SPORTS QPR expulsion threat looms Photo of the day LONDON: Losing 4-0 to Manchester United who cost 14 million pounds, was instru- was bad enough for Queens Park Rangers mental in sending Rangers to a third defeat but if the worst comes to the worst they in four matches since their promotion. could find themselves playing at minor clubs like Southport, Forest Green Rovers UNITED DEBT or Dover Athletic next year. At one point, United were saddled with Instead of having to deal with British more than 700 million pounds in debt record signing Angel Di Maria in front of although the figure has now come down to 75,000 people at Old Trafford in the Premier 342 million pounds according to the finan- League, QPR could be playing in front of a cial figures published last week. few hundred fans on tiny grounds in foot- To counteract that, United have signed a ball’s backwaters. $559 million deal with General Motors to That is the ultimate sanction facing wear the company’s Chevrolet insignia on Harry Redknapp’s west London team if they their shirts for the next seven seasons. are relegated back to the Football League Although United’s profits will fall over and fail to pay a potential 40 million-pound the next 12 months as a result of missing ($64.9 million) fine for being deep in the out on European soccer in the season red last season. ahead, improved TV and sponsorship deals The club’s majority shareholder, airline helped United report revenue of 433 mil- boss Tony Fernandes who is worth an esti- lion pounds in the year to the end of June, mated 500 million pounds, has said he will and core profit of 130 million pounds, both challenge any fine imposed by the Football record figures. So as far as the FFP rules League under its Financial Fair Play rules brought in by UEFA over the last three and even refuse to pay it. But if Rangers so years, United are in good financial health go down - and on the evidence of their dis- and although they have debts they do not play at United that looks a distinct possibili- make a loss, even if they are missing out on ty - the Football League will at the very European competition for the first time in least take a long hard look at their financial more than two decades. situation and take action. But although QPR have Fernandes as The warning to Rangers was issued last the majority shareholder, and the Mittal week by Shaun Harvey, the Football family, worth an estimated 14 billion League’s chief executive, responsible for pounds by Forbes magazine, owning a the 72 clubs in the three divisions below third of the club, QPR face potential trou- the Premier League. He told delegates at ble. Their perceived “crime” was to lose an the Soccerex Global Convention in eye-popping 65.4 million pounds in a Manchester that if Rangers were to be rele- doomed attempt to stay in the Premier gated and refuse to pay the fine, which League in the 2012-13 season, before could be as high as 40 million if their finan- spending a similar amount last season in Brian Grubb performs on one of the original locks of the Erie Canal in Lockport, New York, USA .—www.redbull.com cial figures show the losses expected from trying to gain immediate promotion back. their 2013-14 promotion season, Rangers Although QPR have not yet been found will be expelled from the competition. guilty, the threat from Harvey was plain, That would leave them playing in the although he did say he hoped “a resolution” fifth tier Conference at best, but there was would be found when QPR return to the Chanderpaul thwarts a real irony about Rangers opponents Football League. being Manchester United in their first “Theoretically QPR could face expulsion, match following Harvey’s announcement. but I hope there would be a resolution long For United, since being taken over by before that option would even have to be Bangladesh once again the Glazer family in 2005, have been bur- considered,” he said. “But it remains a possi- dened with hundreds of millions of pounds bility. “The one thing for certain is that GROS-ISLET: Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s phe- of debt - yet being one of the greatest most of the clubs in the Premier League nomenal run of form against Bangladesh contin- sporting brands in the world have more or will become a Football League club again.” ued with the veteran West Indies batsman less carried on regardless. Once all the legal jargon is disposed of, unbeaten on 63 in guiding his team to 208 for On Sunday they fielded new talent that the FFP rules essentially break down into four, an overall lead of 427, at stumps on the cost them around 157 million pounds in two simple concepts: top clubs must live third day of the second and final Test at the the transfer window, including Di Maria within their means and pay their bills. QPR Beausejour Stadium on Monday. who joined for 59.7 million pounds from certainly have the means to do that and After captain Denesh Ramdin declined to Real Madrid. while Fernandes is unlikely to ultimately enforce the follow-on despite a first innings lead He tormented Rangers on his Old baulk at paying the fine, the club face a far of 219 when the tourists were dismissed for 161 Trafford debut, scoring the first goal and tougher challenge if he ever decides to test in the morning session, the home side slipped to along with fellow newcomer Daley Blind, the Football League’s resolve. —Reuters 100 for four before an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 108 between Chanderpaul and Jermaine Blackwood (43 not out) killed off any North Korean thrash Vietnam prospect Bangladesh had of precipitating a com- plete batting collapse. INCHEON: Midfielder Kim Yun-Mi scored Korean fans who wave North Korean flags Chanderpaul, now in his 21st year as an inter- twice in the first 10 minutes yesterday as at Asian Games events-a breach of strict national cricketer, has yet to be dismissed in this North Korea’s women footballers thrashed security laws-could face possible arrest. series and has totalled 645 runs - with just one Vietnam 5-0 to lay down an early marker at Officials had already removed all nation- dismissal in his last seven Test innings against the Asian Games. al flags from venue neighborhoods after Bangladesh, including the current effort, dating A day after their men’s team beat China anti-Pyongyang activists protested about back to the 2012 series on the Indian sub-conti- 3-0, North Korea dominated their opening having the North Korean emblem flying nent. group clash with 26 shots against just three among them. This was his 66th half-century in Tests, and for Vietnam. Kim scored in the fifth and Some 273 North Koreans are making the having been left unbeaten on 85 and 84 in his 10th minutes before Kim Un-Ju and Ri Yeg- rare trip across the sensitive and heavily two previous innings in the series, the 40-year- Yong made it 4-0 at half-time. Jong Yu-Ri militarised border with gold medals likely old left-hander would appear to have consider- got the fifth against flagging Vietnam with to please their sports-loving leader Kim able time on his side to get the 37 runs required six minutes to go. The game was yester- Jong-Un. South and North Korea technical- for a 30th Test century going into the fourth day GROS ISLET: West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul connects off a delivery from day’s only action at the Asian Games in ly remain at war because the 1950-53 of the scheduled five-day match. Fast bowler Bangladesh bowler Taijul Islam as wicket keeper Mushfiqir Rahim closes in on day three of the Incheon, South Korea, which will formally Korean conflict was concluded with a Kemar Roach failed to add to his five-wicket tally second and final Test. —AFP start with an opening ceremony on Friday. ceasefire rather than a peace treaty. from the previous afternoon and it was left to spinner Sulieman Benn, who claimed the last 45, West Indies were in need of some stability. put the West Indies in complete command by North Korea’s presence has been one of The North’s participation in the Asian Chanderpaul and Blackwood provided it to the end of the day.—AfP the main talking points in the build-up to Games was only confirmed after months of two wickets, to ensure that the West Indies had a the 15-day tournament involving about tortuous, heated negotiations that coincid- huge advantage at the start of their second 10,000 athletes. ed with a spike in military tension on the innings. Yesterday, organisers warned that South peninsula. —AFP Only Mahmudullah offered any significant SCOREBOARD resistance, the all-rounder being ninth out for GROS-ISLET: Scoreboard at close of play on the third day of the second Test between the West Indies and 53, his second consecutive half-century and Bangladesh at the Beausejour Stadium on Monday: fourth score of over 50 in Tests against the West Indies. He was supported by Shafiul Islam in a West Indies 1st Innings - 380 Bowling: J. Taylor 19-5-41-2 (2nb), K. Roach 20-5-42-5, S.