LaLiga distances itself from Mbappe’s comments, apologizes to Chinese fans
LaLiga has apologized to Chinese fans for Kylian Mbappe’s comments about a meme linked to former Chinese leader Mao Zedong and distanced itself from the Real Madrid striker’s comments after they sparked a backlash in China. Controversy has also hit the French captain’s business ties, with several Chinese companies announcing the end of their partnerships with him.
LaLiga said in a statement that Mbappe’s comments were made personally and did not reflect the views of the Spanish league or its clubs.
“LaLiga deeply regrets the offense caused by Kylian Mbappe’s recent comments among Chinese fans. These comments were made personally and do not represent LaLiga. As part of our institutional responsibility, we apologize on behalf of LaLiga and all its clubs,” the statement read.
The league also stressed that respect for different cultures remained central to Spanish football and reaffirmed its commitment to its Chinese fan base.
“Respect, coexistence and unity among people of all cultures are the core values of Spanish football. Guided by these principles, we reaffirm our respect for China, its institutions and its people, as well as our commitment to the millions of fans who watch us every week,” it added.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas also apologized to Chinese fans, saying the league would work with clubs and players to prevent the incident from happening again.
“I would like to personally apologize to the Chinese fans for the offense caused. I deeply respect China, its institutions and its people, and appreciate the trust with which they have supported our football for so many years,” said Tebas.
He added that LaLiga will implement an information and communication protocol after consultation with clubs and players.
“We want to support this relationship through actions and we will implement concrete measures to help ensure that similar situations do not happen again,” Tebas said.
WHAT DID MBAPPE SAY?
The controversy followed a video that surfaced online on Monday. In the clip, Mbappe can be heard describing a meme of his face superimposed over that of a Chinese dictator as the funniest meme he’s seen of himself.
The comments are believed to refer to Mao Zedong, who led China from 1949 until his death in 1976. Reuters said it could not verify the video.
The remarks drew criticism in China, where jokes about Mao remain a sensitive topic. The issue gained attention on social media, with some users calling for a boycott of the footballer and his commercial partners.
China’s state-backed Global Times newspaper said the response reflected anger from consumers who believed the comments showed a lack of respect for the country.
The backlash has already cost Mbappe several business partnerships. Dairy companies Mengniu and Shanghai Milkground Food Tech, along with beverage manufacturer Eastroc Beverage, have announced that they are terminating cooperation with the French captain with immediate effect.
The companies said they do not tolerate words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.
Chinese state television has also stopped broadcasting LaLiga matches and events involving Mbappe, while ads featuring the forward have reportedly been pulled, according to state-backed media outlet The Paper.
Mbappe has business links with several international brands, including sportswear company On, hotel group Accor and toy maker Lego. All of the companies had not publicly commented on the controversy at the time of reporting.
His representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Real Madrid declined to comment.
The incident comes weeks after Mbappe discussed the trend of memes portraying him as a dictator in an interview with French sports newspaper L’Equipe. He said some of the memes were harmless fun, but described the viral versions as “a lack of political and human awareness”.
When asked about the latest controversy, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said that words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally face opposition from across Chinese society.
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