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James Porteous

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Proposals that clubs in Portugal would have to field Chinese players under a new sponsorship deal appear to have been reeled back in after an outcry.
China’s latest move into world football came with a sponsorship deal for the Portguese second division that carried the stunning proviso that the 10 best clubs in the league would have to have at least one Chinese player in their squad.
But that plan seems to have been abandoned or watered down after disturbing players and clubs alike.

“They can’t force Chinese players on us, it should be an option,” the division’s chief Jose Godinho told Agence France-Presse.
He was speaking after Monday’s signing in Beijing of a deal with Ledman, a lighting manufacturer based in Shenzhen.
The deal also raised concerns with the Portuguese professional footballers union.
Their president Joaquim Evangelista said: “We don’t understand why the league is allowing a company to force players on to clubs and their managers.”
The Portuguese League sought to put the clubs’ minds at ease.
We don’t understand why the league is allowing a company to force players on to clubs and their managers
Portuguese players union chief Joaquim Evangelista
“There will be an exchange of footballers but the League guarantees that nothing will be imposed on the clubs,” said the League’s media officer Germano Almeida.
The league will be called Ledman Proliga after the president of the Portuguese league (LPFP), Pedro Proenca, signed a deal in Beijing with lighting manufacturer Ledman.
Detailed terms of the agreement - which will also see three Chinese assistant coaches work at the Portuguese clubs - were not revealed by Ledman or the LPFP. The league hailed it as evidence of “the recovery of the league”.
Portuguese newspaper Observador reported that each of the 10 teams in the league would be required to take a Chinese player.
There has been a rush from Chinese business to become involved in football after president Xi Jinping, a well-known fan of the sport, declared that China had three goals: to qualify for the World Cup, to host it, and to win it.
READ MORE: Manchester City hope 'China’s Rupert Murdoch’ Li Ruigang helps them cash in on country's sporting revolution
Proenca visited the headquarters of the Chinese Football Association on Tuesday after signing the deal and met with its vice president, Lin Xiaohua, and Ma Chengquan, chairman of the Chinese Super League.
Lin “wishes that the cooperation between Ledman and LPFP could get great success, and contribute to promoting the development of Chinese football as well as exchange of sport culture between China and Portugal,” according to Ledman’s website.
The website added that Proenca “indicated that LPFP is willing to cooperate deeply with China for different fields of football, and hoped that it would be a good beginning to cooperate with Ledman.”
READ MORE: Why it’s only a matter of time before China’s billionaires make great leap forward into English Premier League
The LPFP said they would help Chinese football develop financial and marketing knowhow, and assist with the move to make football in China independent of state control.
Ledman manufacturers LED lighting and advertising, but has recently moved into sports, in common with many Chinese firms after a diktat from the government that sports business in China would increase 15-fold by 2025.
It is the first Chinese company to sponsor a European League. Alibaba recently stumped up to brand their name on Fifa’s Club World Cup tournament, while Hisense this month became one of Uefa’s official partners for Euro 2016.
Among other recent moves by Chinese business into football, conglomerate Wanda bought a stake in Atletico Madrid and China Media Capital a stake in Manchester City; toy car manufacturer Rastar purchased a stake in another Spanish side, Espanyol, and Hong Kong lighting firm Ledus took over French team Sochaux.

Outcry over 'mandatory Chinese players' plan forces mainland sponsor and Portuguese league to back down

Pedro Proenca of the Portuguese league signs the deal. Photo: Ledman

epa04113745 FIFA WORLD CUP 2014 REFEREES Picture taken on 24 June 2012 shows Portuguese referee Pedro Proenca during the quarter final match of the UEFA EURO 2012 between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine. Proenca has been selected by FIFA as one of the 25 referees who will officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil. EPA/SRDJAN SUKI *** Local Caption *** 50402627

Former referee and now Portugal football federation president Pedro Proenca signed the deal after meeting Chinese Football Association vice president, Lin Xiaohua, and Ma Chengquan, chairman of the Chinese Super League. Photo: EPA

The deal will also see three Chinese assistant coaches work in Portugal. Photo: Ledman

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Shenzhen-based lighting manufacturer Ledman has signed contract to back Portuguese second division


China’s latest move into world football came in Portugal with a sponsorship deal for the second division that initially carried the stunning proviso that clubs in the league would have to have at least one Chinese player in their squad.


Outcry over 'mandatory Chinese players' plan forces mainland sponsor and Portuguese league to back down

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Shenzhen-based lighting manufacturer Ledman has signed contract to back Portuguese second division

Shenzhen-based lighting manufacturer Ledman has signed contract to back Portuguese second division