It may be an error/"Failure to Communicate" (or maybe not) but AP is reporting that QPR are playing China, February 7 at QPR's training ground, Sipson Lane. In an AP Story "China's Olympic team trains with Chelsea" AP reports "..The Chinese team will play a Chelsea reserve team at Griffin Park on Feb. 5, then face Queens Park Rangers at Sipson Lane on Feb. 7, and Brentford at Cobham on Feb. 13." AP
Note: January 23 QPR issued the following statement. (But in theory it could be read to say not playing China at Loftus Road. Not that no practice game]
QPR Official Site - CORRECTION
The Club has had it brought to its attention that Ceefax and Teletext are reporting a game between QPR and China on February 8.
We would like to confirm that no such fixture is taking place at Loftus Road and we have already asked both parties to remove the story. QPR
Pre-QPR Statement Press Reports of China Olympics Team UK Visit
International Herald Tribune/AP
China's Olympic soccer team to play three friendlies in England
The Associated Press Monday, January 22, 2007
China's Olympic soccer team will play three friendly matches next month in England, part of the club's two-week training stint with London club Chelsea.
The Chinese Football Association confirmed Tuesday that its Olympic team will face Chelsea's reserve team on Feb. 5, followed by matches against Queens Park Rangers on Feb. 8 and Brentford on Feb. 16.
Queens Park plays in the League Championship, the level just below the Premier League. Brentford plays in League One, two rungs below the Premier League.
China, coached by Ratomir Dujkovic, is training in France and is expected to arrive on London on Feb. 1. Tribune
Chinese People Daily Dates confirmed for China Olympic soccer team's England tour
The Chinese Olympic team's two-week England tour schedule has been confirmed with Ratomir Dujkovic's men expected to arrive in London on February 1, according to the Chinese Football Association.
China will go up against the Chelsea reserves on Feb. 5 and two more friendlies await the team on February 8 (League Championship side Queen's Park Rangers) and 14th (League One side Brentford) before the squad returns home on February 16.
Queen's Park Rangers is standing at 21st at the 24-team League Championship with 30 points, one position above the relegation zone. Brentford is at the bottom of League One with 22 points.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is expected to work with the Chinese team during their training sessions at Cobham.
Dujkovic's team is currently in France, playing a series of friendlies. Source: Xinhua
Reuters Jan 18 - Visa problems jeopardise China's Chelsea visit
BEIJING, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The Chinese Olympic team's two-week stay at Chelsea's training ground next month has been jeopardised by visa problems, local media reported on Thursday. The Chinese under-21 squad are in France playing a series of friendlies and scheduled to arrive at the English champions' state of the art centre in Cobham, Surrey, on Feb. 1. But a failure to apply in time for their visas from the British consulate at Marseilles may force them to reconsider their London trip and stay on in France, sohu.com reported. 'The Chinese embassy in France has contacted the British embassy in Paris about the issue,' an official surnamed Chen at the Chinese consulate in Marseille told the Web site. 'But their visa applications will probably not be accepted because of the procedural problems...' The British embassy in Paris had agreed to try to help out by checking with their colleagues in Beijing, but it might still take too long, the official added. Serbian team manager Ratomir Dujkovic missed the first match of the French tour, a 0-0 draw with amateur club St O Cassis on Jan. 9, because of a problem with his visa. Chelsea's offer to host China's squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and hold seminars on technical, coaching and medical issues is part of the club's Asian marketing strategy.Your views on this story? Reuters
