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LONDON (AP) — Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp embarrassed the club by questioning a player's weight and poor work rate, owner Tony Fernandes said Tuesday.
The public dispute started when winger Adel Taarabt was accused by Redknapp on Sunday of refusing to train properly and being "about three stone overweight."
After Taarabt defended his conduct in an interview accompanied by pictures showing a slim physique in a paper on Tuesday, Redknapp responded by calling the player "the worst professional I have ever come across."
Fernandes has ordered the pair to end their public spat, with QPR bottom of the Premier League on just four points after eight games and a 3-2 loss to Liverpool on Sunday.
"We regret these issues being played out in public and both Harry Redknapp and Adel Taarabt have been notified of our disappointment regarding their handling of the situation," Fernandes said in a statement. "I have spoken to them both personally. On behalf of the club, I would like to apologize to the QPR supporters for the embarrassment this has caused and confirm that the issue has been dealt with internally.
"The club's entire focus is now on the Aston Villa fixture next Monday and hopefully after a tough few days we can turn a negative into a positive and build on Sunday's improved display."
