La Liga president Javier Tebas has confirmed that he is maintaining an open dialogue with Chinese authorities in an effort to resolve a dispute sparked by Kylian Mbappe's recent comments about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The controversy began when a clip from an interview with French show "The Bridge" emerged, in which Mbappe made a remark that was perceived as mocking Mao.
The incident led to a significant backlash in China, with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV not airing any La Liga matches over the weekend. Real Madrid's win against Racing Santander on Sunday was also not shown on pay television in the country. Both Mbappe, Real Madrid, and La Liga issued apologies for the comment, acknowledging that it was insensitive and taboo in China.
Tebas has been actively engaging with Chinese authorities to ease tensions and normalize relations. He revealed that he had a meeting with Chinese ambassador to Spain Yao Jing last week and highlighted the strong links between China and Spanish football. These connections, he believes, could help resolve the dispute amicably.
The La Liga president emphasized that he has a good relationship with Chinese State Councillor Shen Yiqin and the president of China Media Group, Shen Haixiong. He has met with Shen Haixiong on multiple occasions, including during his travels to Beijing. Tebas expressed hope that these relationships would help to revert the current situation and restore La Liga's presence in China.
Tebas drew parallels with a similar situation involving the NBA, which effectively cut ties with China for several years after a tweet by then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey in support of Hong Kong protesters. However, he remained optimistic about resolving the issue, citing his ongoing dialogue with Chinese authorities.
The dispute has not affected Real Madrid's performance on the field, as they secured a 3-0 win against Racing Santander on Sunday, with Mbappe scoring one of the goals. The win moved Real Madrid within three points of leaders Barcelona in La Liga.
Tebas reiterated his commitment to maintaining open communication with Chinese authorities, stating that he would continue to travel, talk, and keep talking with them to normalize the situation as much as possible. The goal is to find a resolution that would allow La Liga to continue its operations in China without any disruptions.
Key points
- La Liga president Javier Tebas is in talks with Chinese authorities to defuse a row over Kylian Mbappe's comments about Mao Zedong.
- The dispute led to CCTV not airing La Liga matches over the weekend, and Real Madrid's win against Racing Santander was not shown on pay television in China.
- Tebas is hopeful of resolving the issue, citing his strong relationships with Chinese authorities and the historical connections between China and Spanish football.
