Getting a 12-month prison sentence during the peak of a footballer’s career is devastating. Something similar was on the cards for a Championship star.
Ilias Chair has spoken to The Athletic in detail for the first time about the ordeal that led to his 12-month prison sentence.
The Queens Park Rangers star informed that the entire situation began during a family holiday in 2020. Chair took a kayaking trip in the Ardennes Forest with relatives and friends.
After the excursion, an argument broke out with another group about who would get the bus back. The dispute escalated quickly. Chair told that his mother ended up getting injured in the chaos.
The other group included a man named Niels T, his sister, and a friend. Belgian authorities said the fight involved hitting, scratching, and biting.
The incident left Niels with a skull fracture. Chair reacted after seeing his mother on the ground. He regrets how fast everything spiralled.
He said that he learned about the criminal case only in January 2024 after a Belgian newspaper reported it.
Also, the Moroccan international never understood that he had missed a hearing. He found lawyers, returned to court, and tried to explain himself.
Chair received a two-year sentence, with 12 months suspended, plus compensation payments. His cousin was also sentenced.
A later hearing reduced Chair’s punishment to community service and a fine. He wrote an apology to the victim and the family. He wants to repay QPR for their support.
The 28-year-old joined QPR in 2017 from the Belgian side Lierse SK on a free transfer. Since then, he became a key player, making over 260 appearances.
This season in the Championship, Ilias Chair made 8 appearances and scored once and assisted once.
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