QPR suspend assistant manager after China brawl

LONDON, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Queens Park Rangers have suspended assistant manager Richard Hill following last week's brawl with the Chinese Olympic team, the English second division club said today.

The brawl erupted during a friendly on Wednesday between the London club and China's under-21 team that saw player Zheng Tao knocked unconscious and taken to a hospital with a fractured jaw.

''Following the incident at the training ground on Wednesday 7th February 2007 and the subsequent Police investigation of the matter, Queens Park Rangers Football Club have suspended Assistant Manager Richard Hill from his duties until further notice,'' the club said on its Web site.

China's Olympic team manager Li Xiaoguang said earlier that he would conduct an inquiry into his team's disciplinary problems and apologised to fans and the media. Seven members of the squad were sent home early from the tour following the fight.

Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher abandoned the game after the brawl, which was triggered when Shanghai Shenhua striker Gao Lin clashed with a Rangers player. Gao said he had been provoked and failed to control himself.

Reuters PDS RN1912