Zheng Tao falls down to ground and tries to cover his grimace after getting a jaw injury resulted from rival's punches in the game on Wednesday, Feb 7, 2007. [Photo: sina.com]
Pledget is kept in the mouth of Chinese player Zheng Tao (center) to stanch shedding blood. Reports say one of Zheng's teeth was knocked off by a rival's punch in the fight during the game against Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday, Feb 7, 2007. [Photo: sina.com] Feb.8 - A bloody fight became the focus of a game between the Chinese Olympic football team and England Championship side Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday.
The violence forced the referee to conclude the match early, with the Chinese lagging 2-1. The game was the second in China's warm-up series in England.
Queens Park Rangers took an easy lead in the first half after the Chinese keeper failed to intercept a long pass, gifting the Rangers with a rare chance to chip a drive into the open net.
China rallied to level the score in the second half with a long shot from Gao Lin, but conceded a second goal to the Queens Park Rangers just minutes later.
Then a fierce quarrel broke out between Gao Lin and one of his rivals after they collided with each other in the 75th minute, transforming the field into a boxing ring.
At first the Chinese players tried to rescue Gao Lin, who was besieged by angry Queens Park Rangers, but they only escalated the conflict. Even the substitutes on the sidelines joined in.
A number of Chinese players were injured in the fight, including Chen Tao and goalie Wang Dalei. Zheng Tao was later taken to a local hospital with a jaw injury.
Head coach Ratomir Dujkovic expressed his dissatisfaction after the game, saying the team is responsible for safe-guarding China's reputation abroad. He said his players need to focus on the game and stay calm whenever unexpected incidents occur on the court.
The Chinese team started touring Europe last month as part of the training designed to secure them a place in the top four teams at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
But all their games in England have been marred by brawls. A similar scene occurred when they lost 1-0 to Premiership powerhouse Chelsea on Monday.
China has stepped up its preparation for the Olympics under the helm of Serbian coach Dujkovic, who has announced he wants his team to take a medal at the Beijing Olympics. Dujkovic unexpectedly led African side Ghana to the World Cup in Germany in 2006.
China will play their last match on their tour against English Championship side Brentford on Tuesday.
