The Premier League suggested that QPR consider forming a guard of honour to welcome Chelsea’s players on to the pitch before Sunday’s west London derby at Stamford Bridge.

The idea was one of several put forward as a possible solution to the furore over whether Anton Ferdinand and his Rangers team-mates would shake the hand of Blues captain John Terry.

The suggestion was given short shrift by QPR manager Mark Hughes, who believes the decision to abandon any kind of pre-match gesture was the correct one.

Hughes, a former Chelsea player, revealed: “The Premier League were looking for solutions for the game at the weekend.

“They were throwing things out there and said at one point that a possible alternative would be to form a guard of honour and clap Chelsea on to the pitch, and I’m thinking ‘There’s no chance of that happening!’

“There were a number of suggestions but that was one that pricked my ears up.”

Hughes is one of several managers who believe the pre-match routine of handshakes between players should be scrapped altogether.

“It’s there for the correct reasons, I don’t deny that, but it shouldn’t detract from the main event,” he said.

“You can understand the idea behind it and it’s all very credible, but I think it’s more important to shake hands at the end of the game.”

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See also:

Boss Hughes predicts exciting derby

Di Matteo: Terry is ready to face QPR

Problems for QPR ahead of derby clash

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