Football League probes Briatore, Qadbak

Briatore's day's of pushing his weight around in F1 are over

(GMM) Flavio Briatore has been asked to respond to English soccer's governing Football League as it contemplates banning the disgraced formula one chief from his involvement with the London club Queens Park Rangers.

After being banned for life by F1's governing FIA over the crash-gate affair, the League's board on Thursday met to consider whether Italian Briatore, 59, meets its "fit and proper persons" guidelines.

"The Board will seek responses from Mr. Briatore before commenting further," part of a media statement issued afterwards read.

It is believed that lawyers on behalf of Briatore said at the meeting that he should not be banned from football while there is a possibility his F1 sanction might be challenged.

Arguably of more interest in F1 circles is the Football League's parallel investigation into the new owners of the Notts County club, who have been taken over by the same mysterious Qadbak group that has bought BMW-Sauber.

The FIA is apparently not similarly interested in knowing more about the consortium of mainly anonymous European and Middle Eastern families, but the Football League has revealed that they have been provided more information about Qadbak.

"We are very grateful to Notts County for providing us with further information in regard to its ownership structure," said the League.

"Meetings to clarify a few outstanding issues will occur during the next few days, with a view to concluding matters in the near future."