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Even in the wake of 'crashgate' and the ensuing saga about his motor racing ban, Flavio Briatore is still making headlines for the wrong reasons. The 59-year-old Italian had retained his role as chairman of the London football club Queens Park Rangers, but it now emerges that he has stepped down. Alongside Bernie Ecclestone, he bought into the club in September 2007, but in that time Briatore became known as the mastermind of 10 managerial changes and little progress on the field. "My three years as chairman have been an exciting and incredible experience. I'm proud to have helped save this historical club and to have contributed in paving the way to its future success," he said. Briatore's departure has resulted in the family of wealthy steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal increasing its stake in the club, while Briatore and Ecclestone retain shareholdings. It also emerges that Briatore is set for a London High Court battle with the former partner of his luxury UK fashion label Billionaire. According to the Times, designer Angelo Galasso is claiming multi million pound damages because Briatore promised him a formal 20 per stake in the company. "I'm really, really disappointed," said Galasso. "Flavio kept saying 'trust me, trust me'. But he didn't respect the deal. He didn't respect me." Briatore's lawyer did not reply to a request for comment.

Flavio Briatore is unlikely to be extradited to Singapore. Renault's former managing director Flavio Briatore and the team's former executive director of engineering Pat Symonds could be extradited to Singapore to face criminal charges in connection with the race-fixing claims during last year's grand prix, but legal experts think it unlikely. Reports claimed the pair could face legal action in Singapore after they were accused of asking Nelson Piquet Jr to crash in order to help his team-mate Fernando Alonso win the race. A lawyer said any extradition would depend on two points. "One, are they based in countries with which Singapore has an extradition treaty? And, two, is what they've done considered an extraditable offence?" Nicholas Narayanan told Singapore Law Watch. Briatore is an Italian citizen while Symonds is a UK citizen. Singapore has an extradition treaty with the UK but not Italy. The pair could be charged with three offences under Singapore law, according to the lawyer: causing malicious or willful damage to property, endangering a vehicle and criminal conspiracy to commit a serious crime. Singapore could request extradition from a Commonwealth country for someone charged for offences which are deemed "extradition crimes". However, it is unlikely that any charges Briatore and Symonds might be asked to answer would be considered as such. Moreover, the country would be loth to attract the bad publicity any such move would attract.