The controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappé’s remarks about Mao Zedong continues to create tensions in China. After the French forward apologised, Chinese authorities and media outlets have turned their attention to Real Madrid, accusing the Spanish club of reacting too slowly.
The controversy began when Mbappé jokingly referred to Mao Zedong as a “Chinese dictator”. The player quickly apologised after facing strong criticism in China. However, several online platforms censored his image, while some of his Chinese sponsors, including isotonic drink brand Bushuila and dairy company Mengniu, ended their partnerships with him.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun acknowledged the apology, while the controversy also affected Spanish football. China partially suspended the broadcast of La Liga, prompting its president, Javier Tebas, to meet the Chinese ambassador to Spain.
Real Madrid now faces criticism from Chinese state media and government-backed platforms, which accuse the club of applying a “double standard”. They point out that the Spanish giants took 48 hours to issue a public apology, unlike their swift response to racist incidents involving Vinicius Jr. Some Chinese commentators suggest that the club initially hesitated between protecting its star player’s commercial value and preserving its interests in the Chinese market.
Meanwhile, Guangxi News insists that Real Madrid must take concrete action to rebuild public trust. The controversy has therefore grown beyond Mbappé’s remarks and now threatens the club’s image in China.
