Real Madrid apologise to Chinese people for Mbappe’s Mao ‘dictator’ remark | Football
Real Madrid Issues Apology After Kylian Mbappe’s Comments on Mao Zedong
Published October 28, 2026
Real Madrid has issued a formal apology following remarks made by star player Kylian Mbappe that referred to former Chinese leader Mao Zedong as a “dictator,” which sparked significant backlash among Chinese fans.
The La Liga club’s statement came on Wednesday, shortly after both Mbappe and La Liga attempted to mitigate the criticism, which ultimately failed to quell the discontent in China. In response to the growing controversy, La Liga President Javier Tebas convened a crisis unit and engaged in discussions with Chinese ambassador Yao Jing.
Mao Zedong, who led China from 1949 until his death in 1976, remains a sensitive subject in the country, and any satire directed at him is considered socially unacceptable.
“We wish to express our apologies to the Chinese people for any discomfort caused by the recent words of our player Kylian Mbappe,” the statement from Real Madrid read. “Our club respects China, its history, its culture, and its citizens, in addition to the millions of Chinese fans who admire Real Madrid.”
The fallout from Mbappe’s comments has been swift and significant. China’s state-owned broadcasting platform Migu has announced it will not air Real Madrid’s upcoming La Liga match against Racing Santander on Sunday. Additionally, several Chinese companies, including dairy brands Mengniu and Shanghai Milkground Food Tech, along with Eastroc Beverage, have chosen to sever ties with the footballer.
Migu is set to broadcast nine out of ten La Liga matches this weekend, making Real Madrid’s game the only one excluded. The platform did not respond to inquiries from Reuters regarding the decision.
In light of the ongoing issue, La Liga swiftly organized a crisis unit and reached out to Real Madrid, signaling a pragmatic shift in their previously strained relations attributed to internal power struggles within Spanish football. Recently, Real Madrid had called for Tebas’s resignation, underscoring the pressure both parties face in addressing the financial implications of the situation.
Reports indicate that after Real Madrid’s statement, Tebas is contemplating a trip to China to ameliorate concerns over potential financial losses for Spanish football.
On a now-deleted podcast, Mbappe had commented on a meme featuring him photoshopped alongside an image he described as “some guy – I think he’s a Chinese dictator.” This comment has led to a wave of memes within sporting circles, some depicting Mbappe humorously as having influence over significant political decisions due to his stature in football.
When addressing Mbappe’s apology, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated, “We take seriously the apology that the person has made.”
As the situation continues to develop, La Liga is contemplating bolstering its ties with Beijing in light of concerns about a potential decline in revenue as Chinese state television looks for further gestures of reconciliation.
