British police have launched an investigation after a football club director had a gun held to his head as his team prepared to play.
Armed police arrested 11 men near Queens Park Rangers' ground in west London after Mr Gianni Paladini was reportedly threatened with the weapon near the boardroom before the team's 2-1 win over Sheffield United.
Mr Paladini told the News of the World that the armed gang pounced as he went to his office with fellow shareholder Dave Morris at the ground before the game started.
He said the five kicked and beat him on the stairs and tried to force him to resign from the board.
"I was petrified. One of them was holding my wrists and another was pointing a gun," he said.
"They shouted at me to sign a piece of paper resigning from the board. Of course I signed it - but I have no intention of leaving the club.
"They tried to push me out of the ground, but I managed to break clear and run into the boardroom, shouting for help."
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said armed officers were deployed within the Loftus Road ground following the incident and Mr Paladini was taken to Hammersmith police station.
The spokeswoman confirmed that Hammersmith police had launched an investigation.