Why China Suspended La Liga After ‘Dictator’ Kylian Mbappé’s Mao Zedong Comment: Full Controversy Explained

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe (AP/PTI) Kylian Mbappé has apologized after a video in which he appeared to describe China’s founding leader Mao Zedong as a dictator sparked an outcry in China, cost Real Madrid a trade partnership and prompted Chinese state media to suspend broadcasts of Spanish soccer league matches featuring him.The controversy erupted after a clip of Mbappé discussing his favorite meme went viral on social media. His comments have drawn criticism from Chinese authorities, football officials and commercial partners, with demands for a formal public apology from the French footballer and his club Real Madrid.In response, Mbappé acknowledged that his words had caused offense and expressed regret for the reaction in China.“My comment was ill-judged and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.“I apologize to everyone who was upset by my words. This was absolutely not my intention. I deeply respect the Chinese people and their history, and I am truly sorry.”

What did Mbappé say about Mao Zedong?

The controversy stems from a video in which Mbappé was asked to identify his favorite meme featuring himself.The French striker replied that it was “a video someone made with a guy… I think it was a Chinese dictator”. The clip then showed an edited image of Mbappé’s face superimposed on the body of Mao Zedong, the Chinese revolutionary leader and founder of the People’s Republic of China.Football fans on social media often jokingly use the term “dictator” to describe Mbappé, who is often depicted in memes overshadowing his teammates and even the clubs he represents. Pictures depicting him as Mao and other authoritarian leaders have also gone viral on the internet.But the mention of Mao has proven particularly sensitive in China, where the former leader remains revered by many despite the controversial legacy of his rule.Mao led the Communist Party during its formative years and its victory over the Nationalist Party in the Civil War before founding the People’s Republic of China. His reign also included campaigns such as the Great Leap Forward, industrialization that contributed to a famine that killed an estimated 30 million people.The combination of the reference to the dictator and the doctored image sparked criticism in China, turning what appeared to be a joke about a football meme into a wider controversy.

Why did China suspend the broadcasting of La Liga?

The fallout spread beyond Mbappé after Chinese authorities and state media demanded an apology from the player and Real Madrid.China Media Group has announced it has suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches and other games featuring the French star. She also removed ads featuring him and called on Mbappé and Real Madrid to apologise.Separately, the Chinese Football Association said it had “strongly protested” with Real Madrid and demanded a “public and formal apology” from both the player and the club. She said she firmly opposes remarks that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.The suspension of broadcasts puts La Liga’s commercial relationship with China under pressure, given the country’s importance as a market for the Spanish competition.La Liga responded by distancing themselves from the comments, stating that Mbappé was speaking personally and did not represent the league.In a statement, it said it “deeply regrets the offense caused to Chinese fans by Mbappé’s recent comments”.The league also announced plans to implement a communication protocol for players and clubs, while working with stakeholders in China to prevent similar incidents in the future.La Liga president Javier Tebas later told X that he had met with China’s ambassador to Spain, Yao Jing, to discuss the dispute and seek a solution.Tebas reiterated the league’s commitment to maintaining its partnerships with China, including a strategic agreement with the Chinese league until 2029 and agreements with China Media Group.“Our commitment is to continue working together so that a single episode does not damage the important progress made or affect the millions of Chinese fans who watch our competitions. China is and will continue to be a strategic partner of La Liga,” said Tebas.

Three Chinese brands end partnership with Mbappé

The backlash also affected Mbappé’s commercial interests in China, where his image featured prominently in advertising campaigns, from subway stations to elevator displays.Beverage company Dongpeng, dairy giant Mengniu and cheese maker Milkground announced on Tuesday that the footballer’s contracts were ending.The companies issued similarly worded statements against “any words and actions that hurt national sentiment”. Although they did not specify the exact reason for their decisions, their announcements followed the circulation of a video containing Mbappé’s comments about Mao.Mbappé has appeared in campaigns for products ranging from electrolyte drinks to milk and cheese. One Dongpeng ad featured a slogan in Chinese, while an ad for Mengniu showed him alongside Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi.Chinese social media platform RedNote also joined the criticism. It stated that its content partnership with Mbappé ended on 31 December 2024 and announced that it would remove related promotional material. The platform expressed disapproval of “any behavior that harms national sentiments”.Mbappé’s RedNote account was also banned from accepting new followers on Tuesday.On Weibo, hashtags related to Dongpeng ending his partnership with the footballer and several brands cutting ties with him topped the trending charts. Calls to boycott Mbappé also gained attention, with some users criticizing his remarks and telling him not to visit China.

A broader model of commercial fallout in China

The controversy is the latest example of the repercussions foreign public figures and organizations can face in China for remarks perceived to be offensive to the country.In 2019, Chinese state television stopped broadcasting NBA games after Daryl Morey, then general manager of the Houston Rockets, tweeted in support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong.The latest episode has similarly attracted commercial partners, sports administrators and broadcasters, with La Liga seeking to limit the damage to its relationship with the Chinese audience.While Mbappé apologized and the Spanish league distanced himself from his comments, the incident highlighted how a remark made in the context of an online football meme can escalate into a dispute with implications for broadcasting and business partnerships.