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- 15 Games remaining, need around 23 points. After 23 games, QPR have 15 points.
MAIL
EXCLUSIVE: QPR in racism row as youth coach is suspended and Fernandes launches inquiry
By NEIL ASHTON
PUBLISHED: 22:40, 21 January 2013 | UPDATED: 22:40, 21 January 2013
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Queens Park Rangers have suspended highly rated youth-team coach Mark Langton amid allegations of racism.
Langton, who is on a full-time contract at Loftus Road, received an official letter from the club last week formally suspending him. He has been told he is not allowed on site until an internal investigation has concluded.
It is understood that the allegations surfaced after Langton released a number of youth-team players just after Christmas.
QPR then received a complaint from one of the released players and his father alleging racist abuse while he was being coached by Langton.
Rangers are making changes to their youth-team set-up after Mark Hughes was sacked in November, but it is not unusual for clubs to release players at the turn of the year.
Langton is known for a sergeant major-style approach, but he is well respected at QPR, where staff at the club are shocked and surprised by the nature of the allegations. Many of them have been told they will be interviewed as part of the investigation.
There are claims that Langton’s coaching style was accepted by QPR’s young players when they were at the club, but their attitude changed after he released a number of players.
Rangers on Monday night confirmed that a formal investigation has started and Langton has been informed.
Owner Tony Fernandes has told the club’s human resources department to carry out a thorough inquiry into the alleged incident and has pledged his full support.
Langton is stunned by the claims and intends to fight to save his reputation. Mail
Andover Advertiser »
Fan's 'abhorrent outburst at match'
2:19pm Monday 21st January 2013 in National Sport News © Press Association 2013
A man called one Premier League footballer a "chink" and another a "black monkey" in an "abhorrent" outburst in front of his wife, children and grandson, a court has heard.
Everton fan William Blything hurled the racist abuse at QPR's South Korean captain Park Ji-sung and Everton forward Victor Anichebe as his team drew 1-1 at Loftus Road on October 21, West London Magistrates' Court heard.
Police arrested the 42-year-old after he was reported to stewards and police officers by fellow Evertonians as he watched the game with his wife, 16-year-old daughter, 11-year-old son and three-year-old grandson.
Blything, of Moss Pits Lane in Wavertree, Liverpool, admitted he used foul language during the game but denied a single count of racially-aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress.
Giving evidence in court on Monday, Everton fan Neil Jordan said he was "outraged" by the abuse and had tweeted a picture of Blything, referring to him as a "racist t***" before reporting him to stewards.
Mr Jordan said he first noticed Blything as he made one of his children cry by telling him to "man up" when QPR scored a goal. He later heard the defendant refer to Anichebe, who is originally from Nigeria, as a "f****** black monkey" several times.
Mr Jordan said: "At that point I realised that it wasn't an isolated incident. There was clearly some intent to target that player because, in my opinion, of the colour of his skin, coupled with general agitation and abuse aimed at the home end and abuse towards another opposition player."
Louise Thomas, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Jordan described how he was left "shaking and distraught" by the abuse. Also giving evidence, Everton fan John Murmame said he heard Blything shout "Take down that chink" in reference to Park.
The match saw QPR defender Anton Ferdinand and other team-mates refuse to don a T-shirt in support of anti-racism campaign Kick It Out. Last October, Chelsea captain John Terry was given a four-month suspension and £220,000 fine for racially abusing Ferdinand during a match in October 2011. Press Association
By NEIL ASHTON
PUBLISHED: 22:40, 21 January 2013 | UPDATED: 22:40, 21 January 2013
Share
Queens Park Rangers have suspended highly rated youth-team coach Mark Langton amid allegations of racism.
Langton, who is on a full-time contract at Loftus Road, received an official letter from the club last week formally suspending him. He has been told he is not allowed on site until an internal investigation has concluded.
It is understood that the allegations surfaced after Langton released a number of youth-team players just after Christmas.
QPR then received a complaint from one of the released players and his father alleging racist abuse while he was being coached by Langton.
Rangers are making changes to their youth-team set-up after Mark Hughes was sacked in November, but it is not unusual for clubs to release players at the turn of the year.
Langton is known for a sergeant major-style approach, but he is well respected at QPR, where staff at the club are shocked and surprised by the nature of the allegations. Many of them have been told they will be interviewed as part of the investigation.
There are claims that Langton’s coaching style was accepted by QPR’s young players when they were at the club, but their attitude changed after he released a number of players.
Rangers on Monday night confirmed that a formal investigation has started and Langton has been informed.
Owner Tony Fernandes has told the club’s human resources department to carry out a thorough inquiry into the alleged incident and has pledged his full support.
Langton is stunned by the claims and intends to fight to save his reputation. Mail
Andover Advertiser »
Fan's 'abhorrent outburst at match'
2:19pm Monday 21st January 2013 in National Sport News © Press Association 2013
A man called one Premier League footballer a "chink" and another a "black monkey" in an "abhorrent" outburst in front of his wife, children and grandson, a court has heard.
Everton fan William Blything hurled the racist abuse at QPR's South Korean captain Park Ji-sung and Everton forward Victor Anichebe as his team drew 1-1 at Loftus Road on October 21, West London Magistrates' Court heard.
Police arrested the 42-year-old after he was reported to stewards and police officers by fellow Evertonians as he watched the game with his wife, 16-year-old daughter, 11-year-old son and three-year-old grandson.
Blything, of Moss Pits Lane in Wavertree, Liverpool, admitted he used foul language during the game but denied a single count of racially-aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress.
Giving evidence in court on Monday, Everton fan Neil Jordan said he was "outraged" by the abuse and had tweeted a picture of Blything, referring to him as a "racist t***" before reporting him to stewards.
Mr Jordan said he first noticed Blything as he made one of his children cry by telling him to "man up" when QPR scored a goal. He later heard the defendant refer to Anichebe, who is originally from Nigeria, as a "f****** black monkey" several times.
Mr Jordan said: "At that point I realised that it wasn't an isolated incident. There was clearly some intent to target that player because, in my opinion, of the colour of his skin, coupled with general agitation and abuse aimed at the home end and abuse towards another opposition player."
Louise Thomas, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Jordan described how he was left "shaking and distraught" by the abuse. Also giving evidence, Everton fan John Murmame said he heard Blything shout "Take down that chink" in reference to Park.
The match saw QPR defender Anton Ferdinand and other team-mates refuse to don a T-shirt in support of anti-racism campaign Kick It Out. Last October, Chelsea captain John Terry was given a four-month suspension and £220,000 fine for racially abusing Ferdinand during a match in October 2011. Press Association
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Club
|
Pld
|
Pts
|
|---|---|---|
22
|
55
| |
23
|
51
| |
22
|
42
| |
22
|
40
| |
22
|
37
| |
21
|
34
| |
23
|
34
| |
23
|
34
| |
23
|
33
| |
23
|
29
| |
23
|
28
| |
22
|
27
| |
23
|
26
| |
23
|
25
| |
22
|
22
| |
23
|
21
| |
23
|
20
| |
23
|
19
| |
23
|
19
| |
23
|
15
|