Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp has hit back at criticism targeted towards Jose Bosingwa, who was spotted laughing minutes after his side were relegated from the Premier League.

A goalless draw between Reading and QPR resulted in both teams dropping into the Championship, but the fallout has been marred by camera images showing Bosingwa laughing as he walked down the tunnel.

Following the scenes, which have been highly criticised by Joey Barton, Redknapp has jumped to the defence of the former Chelsea right-back.

"He wasn't laughing about the result or getting relegated," Sky Sports News quotes Redknapp as saying.

"To start throwing that one about is completely out of order. He was only laughing because one of their players, another foreign lad, came up and said something to him."

Despite Redknapp's comments, reports have claimed that club officials are furious at Bosingwa's reaction.