Adel Taarabt: QPR chairman apologises for club fall-out

Adel Taarabt has not started since the League Cup defeat at Burton in August

Queens Park Rangers chairman Tony Fernandes has ordered midfielder Adel Taarabt and manager Harry Redknapp to end their ongoing public row.

In a statement, Fernandes said the pair had caused "embarrassment" with their dispute over the Moroccan's fitness and apologised to fans for their conduct.

"I have spoken to them both personally," Fernandes said.

"Both have been notified of our disappointment regarding their handling of the situation."

The statement continued: "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."

In a row that began after QPR's 3-2 defeat by Liverpool on Sunday, Redknapp described Taarabt as "the worst professional I have ever come across".

The Moroccan, whom Redknapp claimed was "three stone overweight", had defended himself in a Daily Mail article, saying: "I was desperate to play before the game. I was fuming when I didn't play. It's not true to say I'm not fit. He tried to give an excuse.

Taarabt shows off his physique

"He is an experienced manager and he should have controlled that situation."

But in an interview with The Sun, the QPR manager stood by the comments he made after Sunday's defeat, and said Taarabt's recent weight loss was due to him catching tonsillitis.

"He is not fit to play a game, that's the truth," Redknapp said.

"He is the worst professional I have ever come across and I have been his only ally at QPR for the past three years.

"He doesn't try and I have protected him for too long."

The 67-year-old manager also dismissed a photo in which Taarabt showed off his physique, saying even he could look OK if he "could suck my stomach in for a picture".

Taarabt returned to Loftus Road in the summer after loan spells at Fulham and Italian giants AC Milan last season.

He has not started a game for QPR since 27 August.

The newly promoted club are bottom of the Premier League after taking four points from their opening eight games.