Mandatory Chinese players for every Portuguese 2nd division team under new sponsor

[Kiarash]

China’s latest move into world football has come in Portugal with a sponsorship deal for the second division that carries the stunning proviso that all 10 clubs in the league will have to have at least one Chinese player in their squad.

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.

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”.

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.

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.

Read more: http://www.scmp.com/sport/china/arti...st-one-chinese

Your thoughts?

[Gucci10]

China’s latest move into world football has come in Portugal with a sponsorship deal for the second division that carries the stunning proviso that all 10 clubs in the league will have to have at least one Chinese player in their squad.

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.

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”.

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.

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.

Read more: http://www.scmp.com/sport/china/arti...st-one-chinese

Your thoughts?

Ridiculous. If only Iran was in their place...

[tmfan]

Both Qatar and China spend millions of $$$ but China is less successful than the tiny country. At least Qatar will qualify for the WCQ final round and still have a chance to make it to the Olympics. China is almost finished in 2018 WCQ and they lost all three games in the Olympic qualification. This is pathetic, especially considering football is popular there.

[littlepersia17]

Mandatory Chinese players for every Portuguese 2nd division team under new sp...

Both Qatar and China spend millions of $$$ but China is less successful than the tiny country. At least Qatar will qualify for the WCQ final round and still have a chance to make it to the Olympics. China is almost finished in 2018 WCQ and they lost all three games in the Olympic qualification. This is pathetic, especially considering football is popular there.

It's only a matter of time before they become a powerhouse in Football too. They have the biggest population, and in my opinion are mentally stronger than any other country.

From what I have seen, when the Chinese put their mind on something, they practise every single hour of the day until they get better at it. They rarely ever give up on something they strive to achieve.

[tmfan]

It's only a matter of time before they become a powerhouse in Football too. They have the biggest population, and in my opinion are mentally stronger than any other country.

From what I have seen, when the Chinese put their mind on something, they practise every single hour of the day until they get better at it. They rarely ever give up on something they strive to achieve.

80% of the Chinese are still poor farmers and they have no time for playing sports. More importantly, their economic golden years are going to end. They will suffer from the middle income trap.

[Ali.Karimi79]

80% of the Chinese are still poor farmers and they have no time for playing sports. More importantly, their economic golden years are going to end. They will suffer from the middle income trap.

Maybe, but still their huge population will provide enough talents to field a strong chinese national football team.

My thoughts on this plan is quite positive. It's a win win situation for both sides so what's the problem. Having 1 chinese player in the entire squad is absolutely fine.

[littlepersia17]

80% of the Chinese are still poor farmers and they have no time for playing sports. More importantly, their economic golden years are going to end. They will suffer from the middle income trap.

Even if 80% of their population is poor farmers, that still leaves around 300 million people that in your words have 'time for playing sports'.

It's just a massive population. And You can't say what about India. I've learnt a long time ago that Indians are physically (body structure) incapable of high level of professional sports. Sure they are good at cricket, but that sport needs very little athleticism.

[GoIran]

I've never seen a world class Chinese athlete in major sports. China dominates Olympic medal table but they are only good at sports that nobody heard of or cares about. Something is wrong with them....

[Z Joon]

Outside Guangzhou Evergrande that spends god knows how much on foreign players, Chinese football sucks from head to toe. They don't have talent, they don't have passion, they are pretty similar to an East Asian Qatar except that they have a colossal population which makes it even more ridiculous seeing how much they try to spend on the sport and use their brand connections, sponsors to send Chinese in European top leagues yet fail miserably every time

And having players in Portuguese 2nd division most likely won't change that at all, as you may know that league is nothing noteworthy, with rather crap teams and pitches where most average players could break into (expecting of course that most Chinese players will only be in the reserve or at best bench players), but even if they had 1st team players over there it wouldn't alter anything in their football level at all even on the long run

[Karimi 8]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[persianfire]

I've never seen a world class Chinese athlete in major sports. China dominates Olympic medal table but they are only good at sports that nobody heard of or cares about. Something is wrong with them....

China is successful in tennis. Their female player won a Grand Slam title. Also they have a top male player who is always in the top 10 of the ATP rankings and one of the bests after the big 4 (Djokovic, Federer, Murray and Nadal).

[persianfire]

From what I know, football is really popular there. The government fully supports their domestic league. That's why many foreign stars move to China.

[GoIran]

China is successful in tennis. Their female player won a Grand Slam title.

Women's tennis is a joke.

Also they have a top male player who is always in the top 10 of the ATP rankings and one of the bests after the big 4 (Djokovic, Federer, Murray and Nadal).

I think you meant Kei Nishikori. He is from Japan lol.

[littlepersia17]

Women's tennis is a joke

Not the most valid reason is it.

[Z Joon]

Jackson Martinez leaves Atletico to Guangzhou Evergrande for 45 Million €