League Championship side Queens Park Rangers will learn this month whether it will "face a fine" of £57.9M ($75M) for a "possible breach of spending limits" in winning promotion to the Premier League three years ago. The club's dispute with the Football League "will be heard by an arbitration panel" at a hearing next week. If QPR wins the argument, it "could have a knock-on effect" for Bournemouth and Leicester City, which have also "challenged the League’s attempts to impose a fine on them for recording sizeable losses during their promotion to the top flight." Leicester claimed the regulations were “unlawful” (LONDON TIMES, 5/17).
Diego Lemos' ownership claim to League Two side Morecambe has been "dismissed by a court after failing to pay legal costs." Lemos purchased a majority stake in G50 Holdings, the company which holds 82% of Morecambe's shares, in September. He disputed January's transfer of 99% of G50 shares to tax consultant Graham Burnard, who reportedly "claimed Lemos had failed to pay for the share issue which saw him take control" (BBC, 5/16).
A-League side Sydney FC unveiled a more "grown-up" logo. The club revealed a revamped design of its badge, the "first time it has been changed" since its inception 12 years ago. It centers on the Sydney Opera House and was designed in consultation with supporters, "who have long felt the previous version was outdated." Sydney FC also announced it will stay at Allianz Stadium for the next decade after signing a 10-year lease with the SCG Trust (AAP, 5/17).
