Real Madrid apologise to Chinese people for Mbappe’s Mao ‘dictator’ remark

What the report says

Real Madrid issued an apology on Wednesday after Kylian Mbappe drew criticism in China for referring to Mao Zedong as a “dictator” in remarks that circulated from a French podcast. The club said it regretted any discomfort caused to Chinese people and stressed respect for China, its history, culture and fans. The episode had already prompted apologies from Mbappe and from La Liga, according to the report from Reuters published by Al Jazeera.

The backlash went beyond social media, with La Liga setting up a crisis unit and its president, Javier Tebas, meeting Chinese ambassador Yao Jing. The report said the controversy underscored how sensitive references to Mao remain in China, where ridicule of the founding communist leader is widely treated as taboo. It also showed how quickly comments by high-profile athletes can affect commercial and institutional relationships in a major market.

The fallout included broadcast and sponsorship consequences. China’s state-owned Migu platform was not scheduled to carry Real Madrid’s league match against Racing Santander, while several Chinese brands that had cooperated with Mbappe reportedly ended those ties. Al Jazeera’s reporting said Spanish football officials were concerned about possible financial damage and were considering stronger engagement with Beijing as they tried to contain the dispute.