Modern Football Part........

[Geoffrey de Ste. Croix]

A Chinese player must be included in the squad of every Portuguese second division club as part of Chinese light bulb manufacturer Ledman's sponsorship package.

[Borracho]

Modern Football Part........

It's over, isn't it? It's all over.

[The Awesome Berbaslug!!!]

Modern Football Part........

These are just no-show jobs for footballers aren't they?

[Southport Zeb]

Modern Football Part........

It's not every club in the Second Division that needs a Chinese player, just the "top 10". It is to be clarified if emergency loans will be allowed between clubs moving in and out of these positions.

[Auntie Beryl]

Modern Football Part........

I feel an outing for the BDG Rodeo coming on.

[dalliance]

Modern Football Part........

How can something like that get past UEFA?

[SouthdownRebel]

Modern Football Part........

In a brown envelope?
Hidden underneath a written job offer for the president's first-born?

[3 Colours Red]

Modern Football Part........

It appears they've backtracked somewhat - no team will be forced to have any Chinese players, however bringing over young prospects from China and aiding their development will still be heavily encouraged.

[steveeeeeeeee]

Modern Football Part........

Nothing all that different to Portugal's current usage as a gateway into Europe for non-EU players (Brazil, Argentina, Balkans) aided by agents who have shareholdings in most of those players. Also not as bad as whole squads of players in the top flight owned by the directly competing "grandes".

I'll be honest, all of the above has made Portuguese league football higher in quality and the Chinese investment will probably do likewise. Many Portuguese teams have been taking on Chinese players for a while, but most of them have been crap except for one lad at Mafra who scored a good goal against Sporting in a cup game some years ago.