Real Madrid apologised to the Chinese people on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, after comments by forward Kylian Mbappe about a meme depicting him as former Chinese leader Mao Zedong sparked widespread backlash and disrupted Spanish football’s broadcasting and commercial ties in China.
In an official statement, the Spanish club expressed regret over the discomfort Mbappe’s remarks may have caused, reaffirming its respect for China, its history, culture and citizens.
The club also acknowledged the French forward’s earlier public apology, in which he admitted that his comments were ill-judged and had hurt people in China and Chinese communities around the world.
Real Madrid said it remained committed to respect, coexistence and understanding between cultures, expressing its desire to strengthen the relationship between the club and its Chinese supporters.
The apology follows demands from the Chinese Football Association for both Mbappe and Real Madrid to issue formal public apologies over the controversy.
The incident arose after Mbappe discussed internet memes featuring his face superimposed on images of authoritarian leaders during an appearance on French online show The Bridge.
Asked about his favourite meme, the forward referred to one depicting him as a Chinese dictator. The accompanying image showed his face edited onto the body of Mao Zedong, the founding leader of the People’s Republic of China.
The remarks triggered criticism in China, where Mao remains a highly significant figure in the country’s political history and public discourse.
Mbappe subsequently issued an apology in French, Chinese and English, saying he had not intended to offend anyone and expressing his deep respect for the Chinese people and their history.
The fallout has extended beyond the player, with Chinese companies Dongpeng Beverage, Mengniu and Milkground ending their commercial partnerships with him following the controversy.
China Media Group, which oversees state broadcaster CCTV, also suspended broadcasts of Spanish La Liga matches and removed advertisements featuring the forward. Chinese social media platforms further restricted his accounts and promotional content.
La Liga has separately apologised for the offence caused to Chinese fans, stressing that Mbappe’s remarks were made in a personal capacity and did not represent the competition.
The league has also pledged to establish communication protocols for players and clubs while working with Chinese stakeholders to prevent similar incidents.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday that Beijing took Mbappe’s apology seriously, although the wider fallout remained unresolved.
The controversy highlights the commercial risks facing international football clubs and players in China, a major market for sports broadcasting, sponsorships and merchandise.
Real Madrid’s latest statement seeks to reaffirm its relationship with Chinese supporters as the club and La Liga face pressure to contain the consequences of the incident.
