Kylian Mbappé’s comments regarding a meme involving a Chinese dictator have triggered a dispute, with China’s state broadcaster confirming the suspension of LaLiga broadcasts and rejecting apologies offered by the player and LaLiga. The controversy escalated as state media maintained that the Real Madrid forward’s remarks went beyond acceptable bounds of expression.
State Broadcaster Suspends LaLiga and Rejects Real Madrid Defense
China Media Group (CMG) confirmed through its state-run television network that broadcasts of LaLiga remain suspended following remarks made by Kylian Mbappé during an interview where he discussed internet memes. A spokesperson for CMG’s Center for Sports and Youth stated that the player’s comments caused genuine harm to the Chinese public and exceeded the limits of free expression. The state broadcaster originally enacted the suspension on October 26, halting both match transmissions featuring the French forward and any associated advertising campaigns.
The state-run broadcaster dismissed assertions from Real Madrid that the forward lacked any intent to offend. The Spanish club maintained that the player held the right to personal expression. However, the Chinese state media outlet issued a firm warning regarding potential broader resistance, stating that actions offending national sentiment would naturally face pushback across all societal sectors.
Commercial Fall‑Out and Corporate Partnerships Severed
The diplomatic friction brought immediate commercial repercussions for the Real Madrid star within the Chinese market. Chinese enterprises Dongpeng, Mengniu, and Milkground severed their respective commercial agreements with the player, while digital platforms across the country restricted the distribution of content featuring him. The state media outlet declined to verify the status of other joint corporate alliances linked to the club, insisting that the institution bears direct responsibility for the conduct of its registered players.
Apologies from Javier Tebas and Kylian Mbappé
LaLiga president Javier Tebas sought to mitigate the diplomatic damage by issuing a formal letter to Chinese authorities, describing the player’s behavior as unacceptable and offering a sincere apology for the offense caused. Tebas utilized social media channels to express regret and met directly with the Chinese ambassador to Spain, Yao Jing, to mend bilateral sporting ties. Tebas emphasized that the broadcasting blackout unfairly impacts more than 20 league clubs and millions of supporters.
Following the initial backlash, Kylian Mbappé published a formal statement written in French, Chinese, and English, expressing deep regret for his words and conveying profound respect for the history and people of China. Despite these formal gestures, the state television network insisted that neither the correspondence nor the public statements satisfied their requirements for reconciliation, maintaining that discussions will not resume until the club issues a response deemed completely satisfactory.
Future Bilateral Agreements and Outstanding Diplomatic Stalemates
The standoff presents significant operational challenges for Spanish football administrators, given the strategic commercial partnerships binding LaLiga to the region. LaLiga maintains a long-term cooperation framework with the Chinese Professional Football League that extends through 2029, alongside lucrative broadcasting agreements with state media entities. As state television insists on further formal accountability from the club before lifting the transmission ban, no confirmed date has been established for the resumption of Spanish football broadcasts in the country.
🚨🇨🇳| Kylian Mbappe and La Liga have BOTH publicly apologised to China following the controversy over his Mao Zedong meme comments. Here's how the situation unfolded:🇫🇷 Mbappé joked about a meme depicting him as Mao Zedong, referring to the figure as “a Chinese dictator”.🇨🇳… pic.twitter.com/snfThwE7L5
🆕 China has confirmed it will continue to suspend La Liga broadcasts, rejecting Real Madrid’s response to Kylian Mbappé’s comments despite the player’s apology. 😬China is demanding public apologies from Real Madrid, La Liga and Mbappé, as well as a written apology. The… pic.twitter.com/EBIkb8mPXb
