On the bright side, I suppose the R’s can be proud they made headlines around the world this morning. From The Times’ Tom Dart and Ron Lewis.
Chelsea™s attempt to expand their brand to the Far East is developing into a China crisis. A member of the China Olympic team was taken to hospital with a suspected broken jaw after a brawl involving at least 30 people broke out during a so-called friendly against a Queens Park Rangers XI at the Coca-Cola Championship club™s Harlington training ground yesterday.
The China Olympic squad are in London as the guests of Chelsea, the Barclays Premiership champions. This could prove a serious setback as Chelsea attempt to forge closer relations with a potentially lucrative market.
œWe got a call to Sipson Lane, we sent an ambulance and the crew treated a man in his early twenties and conveyed him to hospital, a statement from the London Ambulance Service read. The player was taken to Hillingdon Hospital. On Tuesday, London triumphantly hosted four international friendlies; the next day it was the location for an international incident.
Every player on both teams, as well as substitutes, is understood to have been involved in the fight halfway through the second half of a lunchtime match in which both teams were playing aggressively. QPR were leading 2-1 at the time. It is alleged that Richard Hill, the QPR coach, became involved. The player taken to hospital is believed to have been knocked unconscious.
Dermot Gallagher, the Premiership official who was refereeing the match, was forced to abandon the game. Gallagher is expected to mention the fight in his report to the FA, which makes an investigation probable. No one has yet made a complaint to police, but it is thought that they are aware of what happened.
One source said: œIt just kicked off and all 22 players were involved. Another said: œThere were punches and kung-fu kicks ” it was absolute mayhem.
Should the FA investigation result in a points reduction, I move that Leeds arrange friendlies for the Chinese Olympic team with Barnsley, Luton, Hull, and Southend as soon as possible.