Ex-QPR Chairman Caliendo Asks FA "To Investigate QPR Sale to Flavio Briatore"...Also: QPR Relegation Talk as Fans Boo Briatore

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Telegraph/Rory Smith - FA asked to investigate QPR sale to Flavio Briatore
- The Football Association has been asked to investigate the circumstances of Flavio Briatore’s takeover of Queens Park Rangers by Antonio Caliendo, the club’s former majority shareholder bought out by the Formula One tycoon.
- Caliendo has written to Lord Triesman, the FA chairman, to ask him to “investigate whether the transfer [of Caliendo’s shareholding] was done in a proper, legal and transparent manner.”
- Briatore bought the club together with Bernie Ecclestone, from a consortium, including Caliendo, in Aug 2007.
- Caliendo, though, is believed to be unhappy with the deal struck on his behalf and has also instructed litigation specialists Charles Fussell & Co, and noted QC Steven Gee, to institute proceedings over the sale.
- His solicitors sent a 12-page document to Mishcon de Reya, the club’s lawyers at the time of the takeover, detailing the Italian’s grievances. It is believed the matter is now in the hands of Mishcon’s professional indemnity insurers, who have three months to respond under the terms of the Professional Negligence Pre-Action Protocol.
- It is believed Briatore plans to sell QPR should they fail to qualify for the Premier League, though that sale may be complicated by the legal action and any FA probe. Telegraph

[-See the blog of Antonio Caliendo


TEAMTALK- QPR fans turned on owner Flavio Briatore as their season of turmoil hit a new low at Loftus Road in a 2-1 loss to Ipswich
- Ipswich opened the scoring with another soft goal to add to Rangers' collection. David Norris was invited to shoot from the edge of the area with no defender showing any inclination to close him down, and his effort deflected off Kaspars Gorkss and into the net.
- Town should have doubled their advantage in the 20th minute when Carl Ikeme clawed out Norris' free header, but Pablo Counago could only stab the rebound wide.
- Ipswich were carving Rangers open at will, and eight minutes before the break the inevitable second arrived. Norris' square pass into the area could have been converted by any one of three Town players, but it was Daryl Murphy who stepped up unchallenged to tuck the ball past Ikeme.
- After the interval, and Briatore's departure, Ipswich failed to deal with Lee Cook's driven ball into the box and Jay Simpson lashed home the loose ball to pull a goal back.
- Roy Keane's men got a bad case of the jitters as the final whistle approached but Rangers could not find a way through and, far from the widely-predicted promotion push this season, will soon find themselves in the thick of the relegation battle." TEAMTALK



MAIL - QPR 1 Ipswich 2: Briatore makes a hasty exit as Rangers slump to fourth successive defeat
- QPR fans turned on owner Flavio Briatore as their season of turmoil hit a new low at Loftus Road tonight.
Briatore was booed as he left his seat in the directors' box at half-time with Rangers, the club branded a 'circus' by disgruntled supporters, 2-0 down and playing like clowns.
Town flyer: David Norris wheels away after hitting the opener for Ipswich
The Italian failed to re-emerge for the second half, and missed an improved display from the hosts which saw Jay Simpson pull a goal back.
But Rangers remain in freefall as first-half goals from David Norris and Daryl Murphy ultimately condemned them to a fourth straight defeat.
They have not kept a clean sheet since mid-October - some 20 matches and three bosses ago - and lie just two points off the relegation zone.
Ipswich, by contrast, are steadily improving after their horror start to the season, although they could not have picked more accommodating opposition to hand them only their second away win this term.
Walk-out: QPR co-owner Flavio Briatore didn't return for the second half after being booed by Rangers fans
Rangers came close to conceding after just two minutes, but on-loan Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme did well to keep out Gareth McAuley's header.
But Ipswich did not have to wait long to take the lead, and it was another soft goal to add to Rangers' collection.
Norris was invited shoot from the edge of the area with no defender showing any inclination to close him down, and his effort deflected off Kaspars Gorkss and into the net.
Town should have doubled their advantage in the 20th minute when Ikeme clawed out Norris' free header, but Pablo Counago could only stab the rebound wide.
Murphy was next to try his luck when a clever backheel from Jon Walters found him in front of goal but he could not hit the target.
But Ipswich were carving Rangers open at will and eight minutes before the break the inevitable second arrived.
Norris' square pass into the area could have been converted by any one of three Town players but it was Murphy who stepped up unchallenged to tuck the ball past Ikeme.
After the interval, and Briatore's departure, Ipswich failed to deal with Lee Cook's driven ball into the box and Simpson lashed home the loose ball to pull a goal back.
Norris should have restored Ipswich's two-goal cushion but he put David Healy's
cross wide.
Roy Keane's men got a bad case of the jitters as the final whistle approached but Rangers could not find a way through and, far from the widely-predicted promotion push this season, will soon find themselves in the thick of the relegation battle." Mail

Paul Warburton/London Informer -Briatore booed by fans as QPR crash to another defeat
- FLAVIO Briatore was roundly booed as the QPR chairman left the directors box at half-time – but for once the under-fire supremo was taking the flak for his woeful team.
- In fact, there were quite a few among the lowest league crowd of the season who thought Briatore’s absence from the second 45 minutes was the smartest thing he’s done in a while.
- At the time there wasn’t a glimmer that Rangers would get anything from the game.
- Jay Simpson’s ninth goal of the season on 66 minutes changed all that.
- The recalled striker was the man to benefit from a well-worked move between Adel Taarabt and Lee Cook from a corner, and Simpson’s low drive into the corner of the net offered hope.
- Rangers then huffed and puffed with a might – but couldn’t find a way to claim a first point in four attempts.
- But in truth, they could have been 4-0 down after 45 minutes instead of just the pair Ipswich helped themselves to.
- It really was a case of a team so threadbare of spirit that the second loudest boo of the half was directed at Nigel Quashie – who back for a second dose at the club where he started – got the wrath of his own fans when he hacked wildly into touch.
- If Quashie had a case of the jitters, he wasn’t alone.
- The only two players who looked as if they had any chance of helping Rangers end a winless sequence stretching back to Boxing Day, were Cook and Hogan Ephraim.
- But even the wingers couldn’t deliver the goods for a front two that changed after just 10 minutes when Marcus Bent signalled to the bench and made way for Rowan Vine.
- Maybe, the on-loan Birmingham striker picked up the vibe first that it wasn’t going to be Hoops night. Although by then they were already a goal down after David Norris had time to turn and attempt a curling shot that took a wicked deflection off Kaspars Gorkss and into the corner of the net.
- If Ipswich’s first had a thick slice of luck attached to it, their second goal was handed to them on a plate.
- Daryl Murphy was allowed the freedom of the six-yard box to rifle home a left-foot drive that keeper Carl Ikeme could only watch fly past him.
- Even then, Rs fans in the Loft had to watch Pablo Counago and Norris miss easy chances with only a Damion Stewart header landing on the roof of the net able to cheer the home faithful.
- The last 20 minutes showed something of a fightback, but after a defeat to a team that had previously only won once on the road this season, spirited fightbacks might not be enough to keep Rs out of a relegation dogfight with only two points between them and Reading in third-last spot." Chronicle