Chinese lighting company Ledman, the official sponsor of Portugal's Segunda Liga, has recently dropped its initial demand that ten Chinese footballers must be included in the starting lineups of the second-tier league's top 10 clubs from next season onwards.
The change in heart was decided following a massive outcry from fans and sharp opposition from the football players' union in the country.
"They can't force Chinese players on us, it should be an option," said the division's chief Jose Godinho, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
Godinho spoke to reporters after Monday's official signing of the partnership between Ledman and Segunda Liga, which will now be formally called Ledman Proliga.
Ledman reportedly planned to utilize the Portuguese system to help train local Chinese talent as one of the main motivations for the sponsorship.
The company initially stipulated in the agreement that ten Chinese players must be signed by any of the league's top 10 squads and must make them part of the starting lineup to ensure that they will have enough playing time for the plan to thrive.
Portuguese Professional Footballers Union president Joaquim Evangelista also told reporters that "we don't understand why the league is allowing a company to force players on to clubs and their managers."
Meanwhile, The Guardian reported that Segunda Liga officials "has indicated that it is open to the exchange of players and that clubs may receive money for playing with Chinese players, but that no team is obligated to use them."
League media officer Germano Almeida promised their member clubs that "there will be an exchange of footballers but the League guarantees that nothing will be imposed on the clubs," which means that signing Chinese players will still be a prerogative and not a requirement to participate in the second-tier association.
However, the stipulation to import three Chinese assistant coaches is still a go as the managers are currently on their way to Portugal to link with Portuguese clubs and gain some much-needed experience.