A game between Queens Park Rangers and China’s Olympic team was abandoned after a 50-man brawl featuring “punches and kung-fu kicks” broke out.
The so-called ‘friendly’ match between the two sides took place in February 2007, when the Chinese Olympic team were “looking to build bridges” with a tour of England featuring a clash against QPR.
But the game at their training ground was abandoned by Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher after a mass brawl ended with defender Zheng Tao being taken to hospital with a broken jaw.
One eyewitness said it was like “the end of the world,” before adding: “The players thought they would be killed.”
Another witness told the Ealing Gazette: “I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. There were punches, kung-fu kicks and all sorts. It was absolute mayhem.”
Here is a news report from that match in 2007.
During the second-half brawl, which is understood to have kicked off when Gao Lin hit a QPR player, Xian Chanba left-back Zheng Tao was knocked unconscious for five minutes.
He was later taken to hospital with a suspected broken jaw.
The defender claimed he was the victim of a cowardly assault. “I was surrounded by a group of players and kicked to the ground,” he said. “Because of the attack, I won’t be able to play football for a long time.”
QPR assistant manager Richard Hill was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and then released on police bail. He was also charged by the FA.
Gao Lin, who is Shanghai Shenhua’s all-time top goalscorer, was adamant that he had been provoked by the opposition but apologised for his actions.
“I failed to control myself in the match,” he said. “When facing the provocation I failed to obey the three rules of submitting to the referee, respecting opponents, and not striking back, which caused the incident. I sincerely apologise to the fans.”
Jia Xiuquan, who was assistant coach of the Chinese side, also apologised for the incident.
“As the representative of the Chinese coaches I apologise for it,” he said. “In the future we will put more effort in to strengthening the management of the players and will definitely avoid similar things happening again.
“Again, I apologise to the domestic fans who love and support the team.”
Featured Image Credit: China Daily/Evening Standard
Topics: Premier League, QPR, England, Chinese Super League