Despite apologies from Mbappé, his club and the Spanish league, experts believe the damage to their relationships with Chinese supporters, sponsors and broadcasters may take considerable time to repair.
The controversy began after a video interview circulated online in which Mbappé appeared to refer to Mao as a Chinese dictator while discussing an internet meme featuring his face superimposed onto an image of the former leader.
The remarks triggered strong reactions across Chinese social media, where public mockery of Mao remains highly sensitive. Mao led the Chinese Communist Revolution and founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949.
Mbappé apologised on Tuesday, October 27, acknowledging that his comment was ill-judged and had hurt people in China and Chinese communities around the world.
Real Madrid subsequently issued its own apology, expressing regret for any offence caused by the player’s remarks and reaffirming the club’s respect for China, its history, culture and citizens.
La Liga also apologised to Chinese supporters, while league president Javier Tebas engaged in efforts to manage the fallout and limit potential damage to Spanish football’s relationship with the Chinese market.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, said the government took Mbappé’s apology seriously. However, the response has not yet translated into a clear resolution of the dispute.
The controversy has already had commercial consequences for the French forward. Chinese companies, including Dongpeng Beverage, Mengniu and Milkground, ended their partnerships with him following the backlash.
China Media Group, which oversees state broadcaster CCTV, also suspended broadcasts of Spanish league matches, raising concerns about the potential financial implications for La Liga and its clubs.
Real Madrid has substantial commercial interests in China, where its merchandise, sponsorship arrangements and large fan base contribute to its international business. La Liga also relies on overseas broadcasting agreements to expand its audience and generate revenue.
According to AFP, China and the United States account for a significant share of the league’s international broadcasting income, making the situation particularly important for Spanish football.
Sports commentator Yan Qiang told AFP that the incident had caused serious damage to the image of both Real Madrid and La Liga in China. He cautioned that an apology alone might not bring the controversy to an immediate end.
Other analysts have pointed to the experience of the NBA, whose games were removed from Chinese state television for more than a year after a 2019 dispute involving a tweet by a Houston Rockets executive about Hong Kong.
The comparison highlights the potential long-term consequences when international sports figures or organisations become involved in politically sensitive controversies in China.
For Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga, restoring trust will likely depend on their conduct in the coming months, their engagement with Chinese partners and whether broadcasters and sponsors decide to resume their relationships.
Although apologies have been issued, the future of the affected commercial partnerships and Spanish football broadcasts in China remains uncertain.
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