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Post by QPR Report on Sept 11, 2009 8:20:17 GMT
As I've been asking...!Standard Crashgate threatens whole new ball game for Flavio Briatore David Smith
11.09.09 Flavio Briatore's co-ownership of Queens Park Rangers Football Club may be threatened if the London-based multi-millionaire is charged over the Renault 'crashgate' race-fixing storm that has stunned Formula One.It emerged today that Briatore could fall foul of the Football League's 'Fit and Proper Persons' Test' for club directors. That's if the FIA, motor racing's governing body, take direct action against the 59-year-old Italian over allegations he asked Nelson Piquet Jnr to deliberately crash during last year's Singapore Grand Prix. The Brazilian did, indeed, smash into a wall during the race, causing a safety car intervention that benefited team-mate Fernando Alonso to such an extent that the former world champion, on a different fuel strategy to his rivals, was able to go on and claim a surprise victory. At the time, Piquet insisted the crash was purely accidental. However, ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza, a leaked transcript of a lengthy statement he gave to the FIA at the end of July has revealed some amazing allegations. Piquet claimed that Renault team principle Briatore and technical director Pat Symonds persuaded him to cheat by crashing at a moment in the Grand Prix that was advantageous to Alonso. Piquet said he was even taken to one side by Symonds and shown where was the best place to crash. The 24-year-old claimed he went along with the alleged plot because Briatore had put him under "intense stress" and in order to safeguard his place in the team. In the event, he was sacked following the Hungarian Grand Prix in July. Following his dismissal, he launched a scathing attack on Briatore in which he referred to him as his "executioner". The Football League will not comment on Briatore's position as chairman of QPR's parent company, QPR Holdings, until after Renault appear before an extraordinary meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Monday week. However, a source confirmed that the 'Fit and Proper' test might become applicable to Briatore under the rule that nobody can be a director or hold a majority interest in a club if they are "subject to a ban from a sports governing body relating to the administration of their sport". At the WMSC hearing, Renault, represented by Briatore and Symonds, will have to answer charges that the team conspired with Piquet to "cause a deliberate crash . . . with the aim of causing the deployment of the safety car to the advantage of Fernando Alonso". The charges are considered to be so serious that Renault stand to be thrown out of the world championship if they are proved. Briatore, Symonds and Piquet might also face personal sanctions including a ban from F1 which, in Briatore's case, could then lead to action by the Football League. Should Briatore be disqualified from office at QPR, it would inevitably leave question marks against the continued involvement of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and Indian industrialist Lakshmi Mittal, who have invested heavily in the Championship side. It is understood that Briatore and Symonds have denied Piquet's claims in documents submitted to the FIA www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/article-23742959-details/Crashgate+threatens+whole+new+ball+game+for+Flavio+Briatore/article.do
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Post by cpr on Sept 11, 2009 8:22:34 GMT
I would be choked if that were to happen.
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obk
Dave Sexton
Posts: 1,516
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Post by obk on Sept 11, 2009 8:38:19 GMT
You never know, it could lead to the Mittals becoming majority owners, which would be interesting.
On the other hand, it might just as well lead to them all leaving us with a nice little debt leading to administration and...oh well. Hm, that scenario would also be interesting, but since we've already had that experience I would much rather try the first one this time.
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Post by QPR Report on Sept 11, 2009 8:44:12 GMT
Luckily we have available a pair of "safe hands" at the helm: Welcome back Gianni Paladini
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Post by Bushman on Sept 11, 2009 10:10:25 GMT
It's always comforting to know we have a safe pair of hands in Gianni Paladini.
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Post by QPR Report on Sept 11, 2009 13:37:31 GMT
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Post by QPR Report on Sept 11, 2009 13:47:46 GMT
Sorting Life - FIA TO PROTECT PIQUET By Ian Parkes, Press Association Sport, Monza Nelson Piquet Junior has been granted immunity from prosecution by the FIA after providing evidence in the 'crash-gate' scandal. The situation is akin to the spy saga of 2007, when McLaren drivers Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and reserve Pedro de la Rosa were informed by the FIA no action would be taken against them in return for providing statements relating to the case. The evidence of double world champion Alonso, in particular, proved especially damning for McLaren as they were fined a sporting record £50million after being found guilty of being in possession of files belonging to rivals Ferrari. Motor sport's world governing body have now decided to protect Piquet Jnr after details emerged relating to last year's Singapore Grand Prix, sparking a case they regard as more serious than the McLaren issue. At an extraordinary hearing of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris on September 21, Renault will answer charges they conspired with Piquet Jnr to cause a deliberate crash to the advantage of Fernando Alonso, who went on to win the sport's first night race. In a further twist today, Renault and managing director Flavio Briatore have commenced legal proceedings in France against Piquet Jnr and his father, Nelson Piquet Senior.
It concerns "the making of false allegations and a related attempt to blackmail the team into allowing Mr Piquet Jnr to drive for the remainder of the 2009 season".FIA president Max Mosley, however, has confirmed Piquet Jnr will not face any punishment after providing the organisation with two statements.Asked whether any promise had been made to the Brazilian for his co-operation, Mosley replied: "Yes. We have said that to him. "I don't know exactly how it was phrased but he has been told if he tells us the truth he will not be proceeded against." Mosley insists, even if the WMSC side with Renault, or no decision is reached due to an element of doubt, Piquet Jnr will still avoid any personal penalty. Piquet's initial statement was yesterday leaked, to which Mosley was today asked to confirm its authenticity, responding: "I haven't seen anything which I believe to be a forgery." Piquet has claimed he held a meeting with Briatore and director of engineering Pat Symonds prior to the race at which he was told to crash his car, which he agreed to. Believing his career with Renault at the time was in the balance, and although no guarantees were given at that stage, Piquet Jnr felt it would enhance his prospects of retaining his seat. There is no doubt as to the severity of the matter in Mosley's eyes, with the suggestion the punishment will match the crime if the case is proven against Renault. "If, and it is a very big if, they are guilty, obviously it is very serious indeed," added Mosley. "It is not really for me to say whether it is as bad as the McLaren case. That would be for the World Motor Sport Council. "On the one side, one of the bad things about McLaren was that they did not tell the truth, so that went against them. "But on the other hand, what is alleged to have been done here is probably more serious. "As for any penalty, if you look at any other sport, if somebody fixes the result then it's usually taken seriously. "Fixing is one degree worse than cheating, like if you're a cyclist and you take dope, that's cheating. "If you bribe the other cyclists, or you get somebody to have a crash in the peloton so the yellow jersey guy crashes, that's more serious. "Then if it puts human life at risk - whether it's the spectators, the marshals or the drivers - then it's more serious again. "But I stress, until they put their defence in, we've got to assume they're innocent." The 68-year-old, in his final few weeks in office after a 12-year reign, has further dismissed suggestions there is a vendetta being waged against Briatore. "It is fundamentally implausible," added Mosley."Number one, we get a report from a driver. We have to investigate. "If they (Renault) are innocent, they will have a complete answer. "There is no point in us pursuing them if we thought they had done nothing. If it was some sort of conspiracy it would be demonstrated and we would look stupid. "The only reason we've done it is because things have been put on the table. "Looking at it from the other side, if we said we were ignoring it, the whole world would turn around and say, 'Formula One is not a sport, it's a business.' "They would also say, 'because there is a big car company involved they're not going to do anything, or because Bernie (Ecclestone) is friends with Flavio and they've a football club (QPR), they're not going to do anything.' "The world would see us as corrupt." www.sportinglife.com/others/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=others/09/09/11/AUTO_Italian_Nightlead.html
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Post by eusebio13 on Sept 11, 2009 14:31:49 GMT
I can't believe this will happen, F1 is a world run by mutually self-interest millionaires/billionaires, they will protect their own
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Post by klr on Sept 11, 2009 15:13:59 GMT
Could be a convenient ( & face saving ) way out for Briatore, He "doesnt do failure" after all. Then who knows what might happen ? maybe the lovable little Indian fella Amit Bhatia will step up to the plate ? I'd be interested to see what the Indians could do with QPR, I've had enough of Italians & "The Italian Way" of doing business. Thats if Mittal & Bhatia are still involved in any way whatsoever at QPR ? No one seems to know. One good thing if Briatore has to "leave" QPR, surely we will get our old badge / club crest back, we are a football club, not a supermarket, bring the old badge back, there was nothing wrong with it. Blah, Blah, Blah, I tthink we will really turn it on tommorrrow, then lose against Palace on Tuesday, in other words, typical QPR.
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Post by grumpyolde on Sept 11, 2009 17:32:47 GMT
Firstly Briatore is no shrinking violet, not afraid of confrontation,some may even say ruthless. Why if he says he was being blackmailed didn't he report the situation to the relevant authorities. To me that would seem to be the obvious thing to do. Perhaps he was concerned some people may not believe him. I can't think why.
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Post by QPR Report on Sept 11, 2009 21:27:32 GMT
Mail - You're a liar, Piquet! 'Blackmail' blast by Renault boss Flavio Briatore as crash row hots upBy Jonathan McEvoy Motor Racing Correspondent 11th September 2009 Renault boss Flavio Briatore accused his former driver Nelson Piquet Jnr of blackmailing him as the Formula One ‘race-fixing’ scandal turned into a slanging match ahead of Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix. PIQUET'S STATEMENT IN FULL Read Nelson Piquet Jr's full account of what is alleged to have happened in Singapore in 2008 by clicking here Piquet Jnr has alleged that Briatore ordered him to crash in last season’s Singapore Grand Prix so as to help team-mate Fernando Alonso win the race. But Briatore, the flamboyant Renault team principal and co-owner of QPR football club, broke his silence on allegations that would drum him out of the sport if proven. Moment of impact: Nelson Piquet Junior crashes his Renault into the wall at Singapore His statement said: ‘Renault, and Flavio Briatore personally, wish to state that they have commenced criminal proceedings against Nelson Piquet Jnr and Nelson Piquet Snr in France concerning the making of false allegations and a related attempt to blackmail the team into allowing Mr Piquet Jnr to drive for the remainder of the 2009 season. ‘The matter will also be referred to the police in the UK.’ Furious: Briatore Piquet and his father, himself a triple world champion, made their sensational accusations to the ruling body, the FIA, in July. In return the FIA, who will judge the issue in Paris on September 21, yesterday disclosed that they had granted Piquet Jnr immunity for his role as the whistleblower. In a leaked letter to Piquet Snr, Briatore said: ‘I am outraged that you could think that I, not mentioning your son and the other people in Renault, could have any part in such a strategy that may constitute a criminal offence. 'I am forced to consider that your threat constitutes without doubt a blatant attempt of exerting blackmail against Renault and myself to extort an illegitimate advantage by way of threats and outrageous lies on the basis of an alleged hearsay.’ Defiant: Nelson Piquet Jnr and his father Piquet Jnr, 24, sacked by Renault last month, responded: ‘I am telling the truth so I have nothing to fear.’ Despite the power and influence of those being probed, he insisted: ‘I will not be bullied.’ Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-1212740/Youre-liar-Piquet-Blackmail-blast-Renault-boss-Flavio-Briatore-crash-row-hots-up.html#ixzz0QpsMLRBV
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Post by QPR Report on Sept 11, 2009 21:30:14 GMT
The Times
Flavio Briatore comes out fighting in ‘cheating’ scandal
Edward Gorman, Motor Racing Correspondent Recommend? Looking like a cross between Peter Stringfellow and Ludwig van Beethoven, Flavio Briatore came out fighting for his personal reputation, his team and for what he believes is the truth in the “Crashgate” controversy yesterday as Formula One’s biggest cheating scandal moved up through the gears. With his mop of grey hair swept back over his shoulders and dressed in regulation Formula One paddock attire, jeans and a lurid team shirt, the flamboyant 59-year-old Renault team principal held court in his motorhome against the background of preparations for an almost forgotten Italian Grand Prix that will be staged here tomorrow. The gist of it is that Renault and Briatore are going to give Nelson Piquet Jr and his father, who have alleged that Briatore asked him to crash his car on purpose at last year’s Singapore Grand Prix, as good as they have got. If Piquet is alleging the worst form of cheating and race-fixing by his former manager, then the Italian multimillionaire and Renault are going to try to take the Brazilian driver and his father to court in France for blackmail. “We have initiated action against the two Piquets for blackmail,” said Briatore, who is furious that the allegations against him and his team have been so widely leaked in the past few days. “I think we are very confident that the truth will come out.” Related Links Mosley horrified by prospect of lives put at risk Piquet: ‘I crashed on purpose’ Piquet granted immunity from FIA Briatore would not elaborate on the detail, but Renault is thought to be alleging that Piquet threatened Briatore that if he did not retain him as a driver — Piquet was dismissed by Renault in July — he would take his claims of race-fixing to the FIA. Even by Formula One standards, this is getting heavy. At stake is Briatore’s personal reputation and that of Pat Symonds, the highly respected Renault director of engineering, whom Piquet has also named in the plot. Both men risk being banned from the sport should the FIA’s court, the World Motor Sport Council, find against them on September 21. The reputation of Renault has already taken a battering after the leaks of Piquet’s evidence given to FIA inspectors and the company could be banned. And then there is Piquet, who is fighting to save his career, even if many in the paddock believe that it is already over as far as Formula One is concerned. But the 23-year-old Brazilian is playing a cute game and within minutes of Briatore lambasting him yesterday — describing him as “a very spoilt guy” who was successful in junior categories only because he raced for teams owned by his family — he issued a tart statement of his own, giving notice that he is not going to be backing down. “Regarding the current FIA investigation, I confirm that I have co-operated fully and honestly with the sport’s governing body,” Piquet said. “Because I am telling the truth I have nothing to fear, whether from the ING Renault team or Mr Briatore, and, whilst I am well aware of the power and influence of those being investigated, and the vast resources at their disposal, I will not be bullied again into making a decision I regret.” You could almost see the trenches being dug as the sport, with a curious and disbelieving world watching, heads towards a showdown in Paris in nine days’ time that is making for far more compelling viewing than the relatively prosaic business of whether or not Jenson Button (remember him?) manages to win this season’s World Championship. Like all the big beasts in the Formula One paddock, Briatore loves to fight his corner and his performance yesterday was full of indignation about the claims made not just about him but the Renault team as a whole. Yet he would not deny the specific details in Piquet’s version of events, among them that there was a meeting before the race in Singapore at which he was asked by Briatore and Symonds to crash his car and that, later, Symonds took him to one side and showed him on a circuit map where he wanted the Brazilian to drive into the barriers. “If we put a case for blackmail against somebody, it’s because we don’t want to talk about specifics,” Briatore said. “I don’t want to go into specifics because those are for the World Council. I have made a statement for the FIA — I was very clear to the FIA [during an interview conducted at last month’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps]. I answer all these questions — it’s in my statement.” Briatore would not say that he was confident of winning in Paris. The team would put their case, their defence and leave it to the FIA to decide. “I feel, really, really upset. I feel sad,” he said. “The leaks have all been against Renault. Wherever they come from, there is big damage already for Renault and for all members of Renault — not just me but the 500-600 people working for Renault.” The man whom many view as having ambitions to succeed Bernie Ecclestone as Formula One’s impresario said he had never come across a driver being asked to crash during a race. One of the many questions at the heart of this affair is why Renault were apparently so desperate to win the race in Singapore that they may have asked one of their drivers to crash so that the other, Fernando Alonso, could take advantage of the subsequent safety-car interruption to record an unlikely victory. Among the factors that could have been weighing on their minds were that the team had not won a race since their championship-winning season with Alonso in 2006; the Renault board was known to be having second thoughts about continuing in Formula One and Renault may have been worried about their ability to retain the services of Alonso. Ski instructor’s climb to top The beginning Italian-born to parents who were teachers, Flavio Briatore started his working life as a ski instructor before taking a job at the Milan stock exchange. Big break In 1974 while working in Milan, Briatore met Luciano Benetton, the founder of the eponymous fashion brand, who hired him in 1977 to launch Benetton in the United States and appointed him commercial director of the Benetton Formula One team in 1989. Early success in Formula One After becoming team principal of Benetton in 1991, Briatore presided over Michael Schumacher’s first two World Championships in 1994 and 1995. The story continues at Renault Briatore joined Renault as team principal when the French team returned to the sport in 2000, leading the team to two drivers’ World Championships for Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006. Driver-manager In addition to being a team principal, Briatore owns a company that manages several Formula One drivers, which has led to claims of a conflict of interest. Other interests At 59, Briatore is married, as of last year, to an Italian model, Elisabetta Gregoraci, who is 30 years his junior. In the past decade Briatore has launched the “Billionaire” clothing brand and bought, along with Bernie Ecclestone, Queens Park Rangers Football Club. Words by Edward Gorman www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article6831626.ece
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Post by QPR Report on Sept 11, 2009 22:31:10 GMT
The International news Alonso dismisses talk of Renault crash conspiracy Saturday, September 12, 2009 MONZA, Italy: Two-times world champion Fernando Alonso on Thursday dismissed and distanced himself from all claims that his Renault team conspired to fix the outcome of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. Amid the usual bedlam and clamour of the Monza paddock, where the sight of police and investigating lawyers has not been uncommon during previous Italian Grand Prix weekends, the 28-year-old driver said he could not believe anything he had heard. The Spaniard told reporters: "I'm very surprised. I just cannot imagine this situation (happening) at all, so, as I said, I'm surprised - and it's time to think of another job now, here in Monza, and with another grand prix, because I'm not spending any more time on this. "I will not comment too much about this because the team (Renault) said that as a team we will not comment. For me it's not even the time to think about, or to pay attention to, this." Renault have been called to Paris to explain events that took place in Singapore prior to the race in which Alonso was victorious, having benefitted from an early pit-stop before his then teammate Nelson Piquet crashed. It has been widely reported that Piquet may have spun into a wall of the street circuit deliberately on lap 14, two laps after Alonso pitted. One paddock veteran said on Friday that he had been told by Renault team members that it looked as if Piquet had 'practised' by doing something similar in an earlier practice session, braking too early and then powering the car too soon. Asked directly if he knew of any alleged plans to ask Piquet to crash in Singapore, he said: "No." Alonso said he gave his team chief and former manager Briatore his full support. "Flavio has been always a nice boss with me. He's a friend. He has supported my career since the time when I was in Minardi. I think Flavio is one of the good people here and he has all my support." It is understood that Alonso was interviewed by the FIA's investigations team at last month's Belgian Grand Prix. Alonso, it is said, accepted the strategy formulated by the team for his early pit-stop because he wished to have an 'aggressive' approach to the race. It is believed he had sufficient fuel to have gone for more laps before pitting. Transcripts of radio communications between Renault team members during the race are reported to have confirmed that Symonds showed no concern at others' worries about Alonso's strategy. Piquet is said to have claimed that he was asked, during the pre-race meeting, to crash deliberately to help Alonso win - a claim that has been vigorously denied by Symonds and Briatore, who have said that the idea came from the Brazilian. www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=198065
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Post by eusebio13 on Sept 12, 2009 9:21:46 GMT
Maybe he paid Helguson not to score so he could fire Sousa
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Post by QPR Report on Sept 13, 2009 6:30:44 GMT
I'd say IF....- and it's a big IF....then should not be involved with QPR
And for those who have said well what happens in one area should not affect another, I disagree....If...then no.
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