Real Madrid apologise over Mbappe Mao comment
Real Madrid have issued an apology to the Chinese people after forward Kylian Mbappe sparked controversy by joking about China’s founder Mao Zedong in a viral video.
The apology came on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, after earlier apologies from Mbappe and from LaLiga failed to end the backlash in China.
In the video, Mbappe described a meme featuring his face superimposed on an image of Mao as the funniest internet meme he had seen. The France international referred to Zedong as a dictator.
Mao, China’s founding leader, ruled the country from 1949 until he died in 1976. Satire about Mao remains a social taboo in China, and the remark drew swift and widespread criticism on Chinese social media.
Sponsorships ended, broadcasts suspended
The commercial fallout came quickly. Chinese brands ended partnerships with Mbappe, according to Geo Super. China Media Group (CMG), which oversees state broadcaster CCTV, also announced the suspension of LaLiga broadcasts, despite an apology from the Spanish league.
The termination of Dongpeng’s partnership with Mbappe became a top-trending topic on Weibo. It attracted 430 million views, a figure that shows how far the controversy travelled beyond football audiences.
China’s foreign ministry also condemned remarks that hurt national sentiment, saying they would face rejection across Chinese society.
LaLiga President Javier Tebas set up a crisis unit and met with Chinese ambassador Yao Jing, in an attempt to contain the damage. That step, too, did not settle the matter before Real Madrid issued its own statement.
What Real Madrid 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 club said in a statement.
“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 wording is notable for what it does and does not do. It apologises for discomfort caused, and it affirms respect for China and its fans. It does not revisit the remark itself in detail.
That careful wording is common in such statements. Clubs seek to close a commercial crisis without adding a new sentence that can itself be quoted against them.
Why a club apology became necessary
The sequence of events explains why Real Madrid stepped in. Mbappe apologised. LaLiga apologised. Neither apology stopped the backlash.
Sponsorships were still ending. A major broadcaster had still suspended league broadcasts. A crisis unit had still been needed. At that point, the dispute was no longer only about one player’s words in a video. It had become a dispute about a club’s standing in a large market, and about a league’s broadcast access in China.
Real Madrid’s statement therefore carries a different weight from the earlier apologies. It is the club, not just the player or the league, speaking directly to the Chinese public.
The wider risk for players and brands
The backlash highlighted the risks for athletes and brands in the Chinese market. A joke that might pass with little notice in one country can carry heavy commercial costs in another, where the subject is treated with particular sensitivity.
For footballers with global sponsorship deals, the lesson is practical rather than abstract. Endorsements, broadcast deals and fan relationships in China are part of the same commercial structure. Damage in one area can spread to the others fast, as this case shows.
Whether the club apology ends the matter remains to be seen. The suspended broadcasts and ended partnerships will be the real test. Statements can be issued in a day. Commercial relationships take longer to repair.
What did Mbappe say about Mao?
In a viral video, Mbappe described a meme showing his face superimposed on Mao Zedong as the funniest meme he had seen, and referred to Mao as a dictator.
Why did Real Madrid apologise?
Chinese brands ended partnerships with Mbappe and China Media Group suspended LaLiga broadcasts, even after apologies from Mbappe and LaLiga.
What did Real Madrid’s statement say?
The club expressed its apologies to the Chinese people for any discomfort caused, and said it maintains deep respect for China, its history, its culture and its citizens.
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Sources and prior coverage
- Geo Super, “Real Madrid issues apology after Mbappe’s Mao ‘dictator’ comment” (28 October 2026): https://www.geosuper.tv/latest/60808-real-madrid-issues-apology-after-mbappes-mao-dictator-comment
