Real Madrid Apologise to China After Mbappe Remarks as LaLiga Broadcasts Suspended

Real Madrid issued an official apology to China on Wednesday 28 October 2026, after remarks by Kylian Mbappe triggered a major backlash in China. The club intervened a day after Mbappe had publicly expressed regret, and joined the player and LaLiga in apologising for the offence caused. The controversy had already cost Mbappe three sponsorship deals, and had prompted Chinese state television to suspend coverage of LaLiga. The club apology marked a significant escalation in an affair that began with a brief remark about an internet meme, and that rapidly became a commercial and diplomatic problem for Spanish football. Real Madrid stressed respect for China, for Chinese history and culture, and for the millions of Chinese fans who follow the club. The apology did not immediately resolve the dispute, because broadcasts remained suspended and the terminated sponsorship agreements were not reinstated on Wednesday.

What Real Madrid Said

Real Madrid confirmed the apology through an official statement from Real Madrid shared on social media. The club said: Real Madrid CF wishes to express its apologies to the Chinese people for any discomfort caused by the recent words of our player Kylian Mbappe. The statement continued: Our club maintains a deep respect for China, its history, its culture and its citizens, as well as for the millions of Chinese fans who feel affection and admiration for Real Madrid. The club also confirmed that it supported the personal apology made by Mbappe, and that it hoped to strengthen the relationship with Chinese fans. The tone of the statement was direct and respectful, and it placed the club alongside the player and the league in accepting that offence had been caused. The intervention was notable because the club had initially left the response to the player and to LaLiga. By Wednesday, the scale of the commercial fallout made a club statement necessary.

How The Controversy Developed

The controversy began with a video linked to the French programme The Bridge, in which Mbappe was asked about internet memes featuring his likeness. Mbappe referred to an image in which his face had been superimposed onto that of a historical Chinese political figure, and described the image as amusing. The image was widely interpreted as a reference to Mao Zedong, the former Chinese leader who founded the Peoples Republic of China in 1949 and remained in power until his death in 1976. The video clip circulated widely on social media before it was removed, but the reaction in China was swift. Satirical depictions of Mao remain particularly sensitive in China, and criticism followed from officials, media and supporters. On Tuesday 27 October, Mbappe issued a public apology in several languages. He wrote: My comment was ill-judged and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world. He added: I apologise to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention. He also stressed respect for the Chinese people and their history.

Sponsorship And Broadcast Fallout

Three Chinese companies announced that they were ending commercial relationships with Mbappe. Beverage manufacturer Dongpeng, also known as Eastroc Beverage, confirmed that it had terminated its partnership with the France captain. Dairy businesses Mengniu and Shanghai Milkground Food Tech also ended their agreements with the Real Madrid forward. The decisions represented a significant commercial setback for a player whose global profile had made him an attractive ambassador for major international brands. China Media Group, which oversees state broadcaster CCTV, confirmed that it had suspended coverage of the Spanish league following the remarks. The disruption also affected plans to televise the next round of LaLiga matches. According to Reuters, Chinese broadcasting platform Migu was scheduled to show nine of the 10 LaLiga matches taking place at the weekend, with the trip by Real Madrid to Racing Santander on Sunday the only fixture omitted. The distinction mattered, because the suspension by state television did not mean that every Spanish league match had disappeared from all Chinese broadcasting platforms. Even so, the situation raised concerns about the financial consequences for LaLiga and its clubs, and about the long term value of the Chinese market for Spanish football.

Tebas, The Ambassador And The Response In China

LaLiga president Javier Tebas became directly involved in efforts to repair relations. Tebas established a crisis unit and met the Ambassador of China to Spain, Yao Jing, to find solutions to the dispute. Tebas had already issued a personal apology, and LaLiga had issued a statement that deeply regretted the offence caused among Chinese fans. LaLiga said that the comments had been made in a personal capacity and did not represent LaLiga, and that the league apologised on behalf of LaLiga and all its clubs. Tebas stressed that China was a strategic partner for LaLiga, and that the league had an agreement with the Chinese Professional Football League that runs until 2029. Reports said that the Chinese Football Association had lodged a protest, and that Tebas was considering travelling to China to help resolve the situation, although no visit had been confirmed. Chinese authorities acknowledged the apology by Mbappe. Foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun was quoted on Wednesday as saying: We take seriously the apology that the person has made. That response did not include any announcement that suspended broadcasts would resume, or that terminated sponsorship agreements would be reinstated. State linked media said that words would be weighed against follow up actions, and that the future conduct of the player would be closely observed.

What Remains Unresolved

Mbappe also faced restrictions on Chinese social media, with restrictions reported on his accounts on Weibo and Xiaohongshu. The episode showed how quickly a single remark could trigger commercial losses and broadcast disruption in a key international market. For Real Madrid, the immediate priority was to limit damage to the relationship with Chinese supporters and commercial partners. For LaLiga, the priority was to protect broadcast and commercial agreements that had taken years to build. The apologies from Mbappe, Real Madrid and LaLiga were all on record by Wednesday evening, but the practical outcome remained open. Broadcasts had not resumed, sponsorship deals had not been restored, and no timetable for a return to normal coverage had been confirmed. The next steps will depend on direct talks between LaLiga, the clubs and Chinese partners and officials, and on whether the measures promised by Tebas are seen as concrete action rather than words alone.

Date	Development
Tuesday 27 October	Mbappe issues a public apology in several languages.
Tuesday 27 October	Three Chinese companies end sponsorship agreements with Mbappe.
Wednesday 28 October	Real Madrid issues an official apology to China.
Wednesday 28 October	Tebas meets the Ambassador of China to Spain, Yao Jing.
Wednesday 28 October	CCTV suspension of LaLiga coverage remains in place, with no resumption announced.

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