CHINA REJECTS MBAPPÉ APOLOGIES OVER MAO REMARKS

China has maintained its hardline stance against Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid despite the French footballer's public apology over remarks describing former Chinese leader Mao Zedong as a dictator.

The controversy has escalated into a diplomatic and commercial dispute, with China Media Group (CMG), the state-owned broadcaster, rejecting the explanations offered by the Spanish club and warning that coverage of matches involving Mbappé would remain suspended until further action is taken.

Mbappé issued an apology on Tuesday, October 27, after his comments in a clip from the French talk show *The Bridge* resurfaced online and triggered widespread anger among Chinese football fans and social media users.

In a statement published in French, English and Chinese, the Real Madrid forward acknowledged the impact of his remarks, saying: “My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world.

“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.”

However, the apology has done little to ease the controversy, with Chinese media officials insisting that Mbappé's club must also accept responsibility for the incident.

A spokesperson for CMG's Sports and Youth Centre said the broadcaster had taken note of Real Madrid's position but rejected its argument that the player's remarks were personal and not intended to offend anyone.

“We believe that Mbappé's disgraceful comments have hurt the Chinese people, crossed red lines, and exceeded the limits of freedom of expression,” the spokesperson said.

“Mbappé is a Real Madrid player, and the club bears a heavy responsibility. Therefore, we reject Real Madrid's justification that Mbappé 'never intended to offend anyone, and that he stated players have the right to express their personal opinions', and we reject Real Madrid's position.”

The spokesperson further questioned Real Madrid's assertion that its commercial partnerships in China remained unaffected, declining to confirm the club's account.

“We hope Real Madrid will not be deceived. Until the club offers an apology, all discussions are suspended,” the statement added.

The latest response has placed Real Madrid under increasing pressure to issue a formal apology of its own, with Chinese officials maintaining that the player's association with the club makes it accountable for his conduct.

The dispute centres on behind-the-scenes footage from *The Bridge*, a French programme hosted by Mbappé's Real Madrid teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni.

In the circulating clip, Mbappé was asked about his favourite internet meme and laughed while describing an image in which his face had been superimposed onto a picture of Mao Zedong.

He referred to the figure as “some guy, I think he's a Chinese dictator”, before explaining that he regularly shared the meme with friends while playing PlayStation.

The footage, which reportedly originated from a recording made earlier in 2026, resurfaced online on Monday, October 26, after Chinese football platform Dongqiudi drew attention to the remarks.

The platform described the comments as inappropriate and said they had “hurt the feelings of Chinese people”, prompting the clip and screenshots to spread rapidly across Chinese social media.

Some users called for a boycott of Mbappé and Real Madrid, while others demanded that the footballer demonstrate greater sensitivity towards China's history and national identity.

The original video is no longer available on the show's YouTube channel, and the programme's social media accounts have also removed the circulating material. The show's team subsequently apologised to Chinese fans and Mbappé.

The backlash gained momentum as users shared and debated the clip, with some accounts blurring the meme or redacting the reference to a Chinese dictator. The edits also prompted questions among users seeking to establish precisely what Mbappé had said.

The controversy has already affected Mbappé's commercial relationships in China, where he has a substantial following and attracts major sponsorship deals.

Mengniu, one of China's largest dairy producers, announced that it was ending its partnership with the footballer. Beverage company Eastroc, also known as Dongpeng, and cheese producer Shanghai Milkground Food Tech likewise terminated their arrangements with him.

Although the companies did not explicitly cite the disputed video in their announcements, their statements stressed opposition to conduct considered offensive to Chinese national sentiment.

Mengniu said it “firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people”.

Dongpeng issued a similar position, stating: “Our company firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any behaviour that offends national sentiments.”

Luxury brands Dior and Hublot were also reported to have removed Mbappé-related promotional material from their Chinese social media accounts.

The commercial fallout has underscored the risks international sports stars face when their public comments collide with political sensitivities in major markets.

Mbappé, widely regarded as one of the world's leading footballers, has built a global profile extending beyond the pitch into fashion, advertising and business. His popularity has made him an attractive ambassador for Chinese companies seeking to reach international audiences.

Chinese social media platforms Weibo and Xiaohongshu also reportedly restricted or removed his accounts, further reducing his visibility in the country's tightly regulated online environment.

The reaction has extended beyond Mbappé's personal endorsements to the Spanish football league in which he plays.

China Media Group and state broadcaster CCTV suspended television coverage of La Liga matches in mainland China, while state media also indicated that content featuring the French forward would not be carried.

The measures have placed the league's commercial interests in the country under pressure and raised questions about whether broadcasts will resume.

Real Madrid has maintained that Mbappé's comments were personal and that he did not intend to offend the Chinese public. The club has also insisted that its commercial partnerships with Chinese sponsors remain unchanged, despite the separate termination of agreements involving the player.

That position has drawn criticism from Chinese media officials, who argue that the club cannot distance itself entirely from the conduct of one of its most prominent players.

The Chinese Football Association has also lodged a stern protest with Real Madrid, while the state-backed Global Times criticised the club's handling of the dispute.

In one editorial, the newspaper asked: “How much longer will arrogant Real Madrid keep playing ostrich?”

La Liga president Javier Tebas, meanwhile, has taken a different approach, apologising to Chinese fans and seeking to limit the damage to the competition's relationship with its Chinese audience.

Tebas reportedly held an emergency meeting with China's ambassador to Spain and stressed that the actions of an individual should not undermine relations between the league, its partners and its supporters.

La Liga also issued a statement saying it “deeply regrets the offence that Kylian Mbappé's recent comments have caused among Chinese fans”.

The league's response contrasts with Real Madrid's continued insistence that the player's remarks should be treated as a personal matter.

Mao Zedong, who founded the People's Republic of China in 1949, remains a central figure in the country's official historical narrative and is revered by the Chinese Communist Party.

He retains a prominent place in China's national identity, and criticism or mockery of the former leader can provoke strong reactions from authorities and sections of the public.

The sensitivity surrounding Mao reflects the political importance attached to the Communist Party's account of the country's history, making public jokes about the former leader particularly contentious.

The incident has also revived discussion about the internet jokes comparing Mbappé's influence in football to that of authoritarian rulers.

The French forward has frequently been portrayed in memes as a dictator, a nickname linked to his influence at the clubs he has represented and the attention surrounding his career.

France teammate Ousmane Dembélé also joined the trend during the 2026 World Cup, referring to Mbappé as “Mobut”, a reference to former Democratic Republic of Congo leader Mobutu Sese Seko.

However, Mbappé has previously questioned the implications of such comparisons.

In an interview with *France Football* in September, he acknowledged the humour behind some of the memes but warned that they could reflect a lack of awareness about the human consequences of authoritarian rule.

“There's a side that's a bit less funny, because we know the damage people like that have caused throughout history,” he said.

“Being compared to people who murder others, or who have made millions upon millions of people miserable... I don't think I've done that in my life.”

China's Foreign Ministry has acknowledged Mbappé's apology, but its response has stopped short of signalling that the broadcasting restrictions or other measures will be reversed.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian initially warned that “words and deeds that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with opposition from all sectors of Chinese society”.

On Wednesday, October 28, spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing was taking the footballer's apology seriously but did not indicate whether the government would reconsider the measures affecting La Liga.

The response leaves the dispute unresolved, with Chinese media officials continuing to demand a public apology from Real Madrid and refusing to accept the club's explanation of the player's intentions.