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SHEFKI KUQI'S transfer to Crystal Palace was very nearly cocked up ... because his registration forms were sent to a fish and chip shop instead!

Finnish international striker Kuqi's £2.5million switch from Blackburn to Palace was due to go through before midnight on the last day of the transfer window.

But the fax never arrived at the Football League HQ, and the mystery was only unveiled hours later - when the shop owner found the confidential papers had been sent to him in error after the Rovers employee working the fax pressed one wrong digit.

Kuqi, Blackburn and Palace were then left in a pickle because rules state that the deal should be in place by the allotted time on August 31.

However, Palace owner Simon Jordan and boss Peter Taylor used their influence to plead the case and the transfer was accepted because it was a genuine mistake.

Times on the faxes showed that Blackburn, Palace and Kuqi had all agreed to the move before the deadline - even if the order went to a London chippie instead.

Fortunately, one copy of the necessary forms had been sent to the FA and the Football League accepted there had been a slip-up and gave Kuqi the green light to join the Selhurst Park outfit.