Portuguese football fans cried foul earlier this year when Chinese LED light manufacturer Ledman Optoelectronic Co made sponsorship of a football division there contingent on top teams fielding Chinese players. REUTERS/CHINA DAILY Students perform during a founding ceremony of a football team of Shaolin Tagou martial arts school, in Dengfeng, Henan province. Chinese billions flood footballRuptly Hulk was mobbed by fans as he arrived in Shanghai at the end of June, to discuss a record-breaking transfer deal. In recent months, a dizzying array of deals have roiled the industry - from signing football players and coaches to Chinese investments in storied clubs and buyouts of sports-media businesses. Chinese Super League clubs outspent those from any other country this past winter, spending a combined US$280 million for European football stars.

Source: Stuff July 11, 2016 21:57 UTC