Peter Odemwingie Disciplined by West Brom for Attempting to Sign with QPR

West Bromwich Albion announced on their official site that striker Peter Odemwingie was disciplined for attempting to sign with Queens Park Rangers during the January transfer window.

While the club did not identify the punishment, the BBC reported that Odemwingie was fined two weeks worth of wages for the incident. The two sides had not reached an agreement when he showed up at Loftus Road on the final day of the transfer period.

Odemwingie released the following comments as a part of West Brom's official statement after he accepted the punishment, the severity of which remains unconfirmed by the club:

"

I understand how my actions have been viewed and want to apologise to the club and our supporters for any distress I have caused. I want to reassure everyone at the club and our fans that I will continue to give my all whenever I am selected.

We have enjoyed a good season so far and I aim to play my part in keeping the club as high up the table as possible.

"

The 31-year-old forward is now cleared to resume practicing with the squad and is available for West Brom's match against Liverpool on Monday. He didn't feature in the club's 1-0 loss to Tottenham immediately following the incident last weekend.

It should mark the end of a bizarre situation. Deadline day is always hectic around Europe with clubs and players trying to finalize agreements before the windows close, but this was an extreme case and therefore forced the Baggies to take action.

Chairman Jeremy Peace made a statement, which was passed along by the Daily Mirror, that was critical of Odemwingie on transfer day and pointed toward the fact that he remains under contract until next summer.

He added the following comments from the original report after the decision of discipline was made public:

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This has been an extremely difficult time for the club and it was imperative that we dealt with such a serious matter both fully and correctly. We have made our position very clear throughout—both privately to Peter and publicly. Peter has apologised for his conduct to me personally and the club and our supporters as a whole.

"

Odemwingie has five goals and three assists in 18 Premier League appearance for West Brom during the current campaign. He joined the Baggies in 2012 after stints with Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia and Lille in France.

With the incident now resolved, Odemwingie and the club can now refocus on the Premier League season. West Brom have lost two straight and continue to fade after a strong start.