China’s government has issued its first official response to Kylian Mbappé’s apology over remarks about Mao Zedong, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun saying Beijing accepts the Real Madrid star’s apology and is taking it into consideration, according to reports from Foot Mercato.
The controversy began when a video circulated in which Mbappé discussed a satirical image linking him to a “Chinese dictator” — a reference to manipulated photos that placed the French forward’s face on well-known images of Mao Zedong (1893–1976), the founder of the People’s Republic of China. Mao remains a central figure in Chinese history: many Chinese view him as the leader who unified the country after decades of war, while numerous historians note that policies under his rule contributed to famines and upheavals that killed tens of millions.
CCTV pulls La Liga broadcasts after the remarks
The fallout was immediate and commercial. China’s state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) did not air Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Racing Santander, and no match from that round of the Spanish league appeared on the state network’s sports channels, Agence France-Presse observed. The Real Madrid match was also unavailable on the Chinese streaming service Migu, while other matches from the same round — including Barcelona vs. Deportivo Alavés — remained available there.
Three Chinese companies that had used Mbappé’s name and image — spanning beverages, dairy and cheese products — announced they were ending their partnerships with him the same day he apologized. The state media group CMG, which oversees CCTV, then announced a suspension of La Liga broadcasts. La Liga, for which China is a major market, expressed “regret” over Mbappé’s remarks before his apology.
Guo Jiakun: Beijing “appreciates” the apology
Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed whether Beijing might reverse the broadcast boycott of Real Madrid. In remarks carried by Foot Mercato, he said: “I have already answered this question — we greatly appreciate the apology offered by the person concerned.”
Guo did not say whether China would lift the measures taken against Mbappé and Real Madrid. Real Madrid, for its part, said its relationships and commercial contracts with China remain in place, according to Foot Mercato.
Tebas: the Mbappé case caused “great damage” to La Liga in China
La Liga president Javier Tebas also weighed in on the affair while attending a cooperation event in Dubai between the Spanish league and UAE club Dubai United. Tebas said the Mbappé case had caused significant damage, though he did not believe the player intended to cause the problems, and he stressed that La Liga must show deep respect for the cultures of other countries.
He noted that Mao Zedong, as the founder of the People’s Republic, holds great status and respect in China, and that what happened hurt a large part of the Chinese people. Tebas said La Liga has agreements with the Chinese Super League, the Chinese government, China Media Group and broadcasters, giving the league a wide presence in the country — and that the league had managed to address part of the problem but was still working to resolve it fully.
What remains unconfirmed after the apology
Several key questions are still open. No official Chinese statement has confirmed that the La Liga broadcast suspension will be lifted, and Guo Jiakun gave no timeline when asked. Whether the three brands that dropped Mbappé could return is also unaddressed in the reports. What is confirmed across the outlets: the apology was accepted at the Foreign Ministry level, and Real Madrid’s commercial ties with China were described as still intact.
Verifying China’s official response to apology
Did China officially accept Mbappé’s apology? Yes, according to reports. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China accepts the apology and takes it into consideration, in remarks carried by Foot Mercato.
Is the La Liga broadcast ban in China still in place? The reports do not confirm any reversal. Guo Jiakun did not say whether the boycott of Real Madrid broadcasts would be lifted, and CCTV and Migu were both reported as not carrying the club’s match.
Which companies ended deals with Mbappé? Three Chinese companies — in beverages, dairy and cheese — announced they were terminating their contracts with him.
What did La Liga say about the episode? President Javier Tebas said the case caused great damage and stressed respect for other cultures, adding that La Liga was working to fully resolve the matter.
The next checkpoint on record is whether Chinese state broadcasters resume La Liga coverage in subsequent rounds; no official date for that decision has been announced in the reports.
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