More than 40 percent of Chinese soccer fans believe the Olympic
team was bullied by friendly opponents Queens Park Rangers and were
right to fight back, according to a survey on Sina.com.
The match was abandoned after an embarrassing melee on
Wednesday, and?Chinese player Zheng Tao suffered a broken
jaw.
Zheng?was diagnosed as comminuted jaw fracture from a mass
brawl was sent to a hospital near the QPR training ground in
Harlington, London, after being knocked unconscious.
"I was surrounded by about five players at that moment," Zheng
recalled.
"One of them knocked me down from behind, and they began to kick
me. I was kicked right on the jaw. I have no idea of who did that,
" he said.
"Our team doctor told me I lost consciousness within five
minutes, that's just too horrible. And now I have to rest for at
least three months. That is in no doubt a catastrophic blow to me,"
he added.
About 30,000 fans took part in the survey and 40.7 percent
supported the team's behaviour.
However, another 30 percent of fans were angry at the news,
feeling the team had tarnished China's international
reputation.
More than half of the fans agreed that the players failed to
behave like Chinese national team members should, but 37 percent
blamed the referee for the brawl.
Also, more than one third of fans wanted the British side to
apologize, and hope the team return home as soon as possible.
Related reading:
Soccer: Mixed Fates for
National and Olympic Squads
China's
Olympic Team Downed by Chelsea Reserves
(China Daily February 9, 2007)