Mbappe’s Mao remarks spark China backlash: Real Madrid, LaLiga face growing pressure despite apology as diplomatic talks continue | Football News
Kylian Mbappe‘s attempt to explain a viral internet meme has triggered an escalating controversy in China, putting the Real Madrid forward’s commercial partnerships and LaLiga’s broadcasting relationship with the country under scrutiny. More than a week after the French superstar’s remarks about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong sparked outrage, the fallout remains unresolved, with Chinese authorities now in communication with Real Madrid and LaLiga.The latest development came on Friday, November 6, when China’s ambassador to Spain, Yao Jing, confirmed that Beijing was in contact with the Spanish football giants over the incident. While there have been no formal negotiations, the communication is aimed at reaching a mutual understanding and addressing the concerns raised in China.“There are no negotiations, but there is communication, based on mutual understanding,” Yao told Spanish news agency EFE before attending a forum at the University of Salamanca.“This unfortunate incident hurt the feelings of many people in China, who now have to come to terms with the current situation,” he added.The controversy has already resulted in apologies from Mbappe, Real Madrid and LaLiga, while Chinese broadcasters and commercial partners have taken steps to distance themselves from the footballer and Spanish football.
What exactly did Mbappe say about Mao?
The controversy originated from a video interview involving Mbappe on the French football podcast *The Bridge*. In the clip, which was subsequently taken down, the France captain was discussing a popular internet meme in which his face had been digitally superimposed on the image of Mao Zedong.The meme was part of a running joke among football fans about Mbappe’s perceived influence over decisions at his clubs. The forward has previously been portrayed as a dictator in internet memes, with his face edited onto images of military and political leaders.While discussing the image, Mbappe described the person in it as “some guy, I think he’s a Chinese dictator”. Although he did not explicitly mention Mao by name, the reference was widely understood to be about the former Chinese leader.Reuters reported that it had been unable to independently authenticate the video. However, the clip was widely circulated and subsequently prompted apologies from Mbappe, Real Madrid and LaLiga.Mao, who governed China from 1949 until his death in 1976, remains an extremely sensitive figure in the country’s political and cultural landscape. While he is revered by many as the founder of modern China, his rule is also associated with campaigns that caused widespread suffering and millions of deaths.Satirical references to Mao are particularly sensitive in China, where jokes about the country’s political leadership can trigger strong public and official reactions. The controversy quickly escalated after the video circulated online, turning what appeared to be a casual discussion about a football meme into an international diplomatic and commercial issue.
How did Mbappe respond? Real Madrid and LaLiga apologise
Mbappe issued a public apology on October 27 after the remarks triggered a backlash and several Chinese commercial partners began distancing themselves from him.In a statement published in French, Mandarin and English on social media, the Real Madrid forward acknowledged that his comment had been inappropriate.“During a recent interview, I reacted to an image of myself. My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” Mbappe said.“I apologise to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry.”Real Madrid also apologised to the Chinese people for any discomfort caused by their player’s remarks. LaLiga followed suit, expressing regret over the incident and stressing that Mbappe’s comments were made in a personal capacity and did not represent the league.China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun subsequently said: “We take seriously the apology the individual concerned has made.”However, the apologies did not immediately end the controversy.
Chinese brands drop Mbappe, CCTV suspends LaLiga coverage
The commercial consequences were swift. Chinese companies Dongpeng Beverage Group, Mengniu Dairy and Shanghai Milkground Food Tech ended their partnerships with Mbappe following the controversy.CCTV, China’s state-owned broadcaster, also suspended its coverage of LaLiga matches, while advertisements featuring the French forward were removed. His accounts on Chinese social media platforms Weibo and Xiaohongshu also faced restrictions.Streaming platform Migu further excluded Real Madrid’s match against Racing Santander from its coverage last weekend, despite showing other Spanish league fixtures.The episode has exposed the commercial risks facing international sporting personalities and organisations in China, one of the world’s major consumer markets.It has also raised concerns for LaLiga, which has a broadcasting agreement with Migu running until the end of the 2029-30 season.According to LaLiga president Javier Tebas, the league’s broadcasting contracts with CCTV and Migu are currently worth around €10 million ($11.20 million) annually, significantly lower than their peak value of approximately €100 million a year.
Latest update: China says it needs time to digest Mbappe’s apology
The latest development on November 6 suggests that efforts to resolve the dispute are continuing, although there is no immediate indication that the broadcasting restrictions will be lifted.Chinese ambassador to Spain Yao Jing confirmed on Friday that his government was in communication with Real Madrid, LaLiga and other Spanish institutions over the incident.LaLiga president Tebas had met Yao the previous week as Spanish football attempted to limit the commercial damage. Tebas subsequently said the league was continuing its dialogue with Chinese authorities and was “working to resolve it”.EFE also reported a statement from Chinese embassy attaché Xie Tianyu, who indicated that the apology would not bring an immediate resolution.“There is not enough time, the Chinese people need time to digest this, it is not an easy issue for the Chinese people, and it is a club that has had many followers and much love in China,” Xie said.Meanwhile, China Media Group had indicated that it would listen to Mbappe’s apology but, “more importantly”, watch what the forward does in the future.As of November 6, CCTV’s suspension of LaLiga coverage remains a major unresolved issue. Although CCTV has confirmed receiving Real Madrid’s apology, no date has been announced for the resumption of broadcasts.
