QPR to receive Championship trophy despite possible points deduction

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QPR will be presented with the npower Championship trophy tomorrow - unless any points deduction from the Football Association comes before tomorrow's match.

Rangers, who are alleged to have breached strict third-party ownership rules over the transfer of Alejandro Faurlin from Instituto in 2009, deny all seven of the charges facing them.

A hearing by an FA independent regulatory tribunal will continue into the weekend but if no verdict is forthcoming before tomorrow's game against Leeds at Loftus Road then the trophy will be handed over to QPR.

A Football League spokesman said: "The Football League can confirm that it intends to present the npower Championship trophy to Queens Park Rangers at the conclusion of tomorrow's fixture with Leeds United, in line with custom and practice.

"This decision will only be reviewed if the verdict of the ongoing FA tribunal affects standings in the Championship table before that time."

The league are adopting a 'wait and see' approach to deciding what to do about a trophy presentation should any points deduction mean Rangers are no longer champions.

It seems unlikely however they would immediately send a replica trophy to be handed over to Norwich as QPR would have the right to an appeal, and any FA sanction could be changed or overturned.

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has congratulated QPR boss Neil Warnock for his club's style on play but said he had not followed the controversy.

Wenger said: "I would like to congratulate Neil Warnock, because QPR have played great football and had an outstanding season.

"Honestly, I have no opinion about the rest of the story, because I do not know this case.

"I am interested in what is happening on the pitch, and on the pitch QPR on the pitch deserve to go up."