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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Chair sentenced to prison in Belgium</li><li>Charge relates to 2020 incident</li><li>QPR in touch with player's legal team</li></ul>

QPR winger Ilias Chair sentenced to two years in prison for 'breaking man's skull with a rock' during kayaking trip

Championship

Queens Park Rangers

Stoke

As reported by <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/ilias-chair-qpr-jailed-prison-b2501469.html" target="_blank">the Independent</a>, Chair was sentenced to two years in prison in Belgium by an Antwerp court, with one year suspended, and fined a sum of €15,000 (£12,800/$16,250) to be paid as compensation to the victim. The Morocco international, who was born in Belgium, has the right to appeal and is not currently being detained.

WHAT HAPPENED?

In a <a href="https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/2024/february/23/club-statement-ilias-chair/" target="_blank">club statement</a>, QPR said: "The club are, and have been, in regular contact with Ilias Chair’s legal team regarding a charge of assault which has been made against him. The legal proceeding is yet to reach its conclusion. As such, the club will be making no further comment at this stage."

WHAT QPR SAID

<a href="https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20240223_92944359" target="_blank">Het Nieuwsblad</a> reports that a lorry driver was left with a fractured skull after an altercation with Chair during the QPR player's kayaking trip across Belgium and France in 2020. According to the Belgian newspaper, the prosecutor said: "While queuing to board the bus, the victims were suddenly passed by a lady in a green bikini and her family. They passed the group and, as it were, demanded to be the first to get on the bus because they had just missed another bus. This led to a discussion with other people who were waiting, including the later victims: Niels T., his sister Eline T. and Dries D."The woman in the green bikini behaved very aggressively and things quickly escalated. The woman lashed out at the victims and their children. There was hitting, scratching and biting. According to several people involved, Ilias Chair lashed out with the stone at Niels T., who immediately lost consciousness. The consequences for Niels T. were dramatic. He suffered a serious skull fracture of two centimetres. He was admitted to Reims hospital in critical condition. He would then have to recover in a Belgian hospital for a long time. He was unable to work as a truck driver for a long time and to this day he still experiences the consequences of that blow, which almost killed him."

WHAT PROSECUTORS SAID

Het Nieuwsblad also notes that Chair denies being the person who threw the stone and requested an acquittal. The newspaper adds that a request to reopen the hearing was rejected when the Morocco player attended court with his lawyer on Friday.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

According to the Independent, Chair could continue playing for <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/team/queens-park-rangers/72nmbktwvcj3wizfp37yjf0dp" target="_blank">QPR</a> while the legal process in Belgium continues. The Championship club are due back in action at home to Rotherham on Saturday afternoon.

WHAT NEXT FOR CHAIR?

QPR winger Ilias Chair sentenced to two years in prison for 'breaking man's skull with a rock' during kayaking trip | Goal.com South Africa

QPR winger Ilias Chair has been sentenced to two years in prison in Belgium for breaking a man&apos;s skull with a rock during a kayaking trip in 2020.