Queens Park Rangers (QPR) owner Tony Fernandes, an Indian-Malaysian familiar to Koreans, is stepping down from his role at the club.
Major media outlets, including the Evening Standard, a London, England-based newspaper, reported on Tuesday (April 10) that “Mr. Fernandes, the majority shareholder of QPR, is stepping down from the club with a heavy heart.
This is not a step back from the frontline of the club’s management, but a complete separation through the sale of his stake. It comes 12 years after he became a majority shareholder and co-owner of QPR in 2011.
Fernandes, who is also chairman of Southeast Asia-based low-cost carrier (LCC) AirAsia, used QPR as a marketing tool in Asia, signing former Manchester United player Park Ji-sung (now technical director of Jeonbuk Hyundai) in 2012. In 2013, he also brought in Yoon Seok-young, giving the club a “pro-Korean” image. 메이저도메인
However, QPR suffered two relegations to the Championship under Fernandez. In the 2022-23 season, they finished 20th and narrowly avoided relegation to Ligue 1.
“I am selling my entire stake in QPR to focus on making a profit in my other businesses,” Fernandez said, effectively calling it quits. “I have experienced some of the most enjoyable moments in my life, apart from my family, at QPR,” he said.
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) caused a crisis in the airline industry, and Air Asia was no exception. Undaunted, Mr. Fernandes responded by expanding into ride-hailing and self-driving taxi transportation.
In the midst of the pandemic, Air Asia is now profitable thanks to its aggressive route expansion and increased flights. At a time when business expansion is a necessity, QPR is the last thing on his mind.
“It was an honor to be at Wembley Stadium in London to watch QPR win promotion to the Premier League,” he recalled, “and I’m grateful to the fans for the adventure we’ve shared over the past decade. We will continue to follow QPR’s results. We wish them every success.”