The Spanish football club Real Madrid has chosen not to apologize to China amid a growing controversy surrounding its star player, Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé recently sparked outrage in China after reacting to a humorous video depicting him as a dictator, with references to Mao Zedong. His comments led to several Chinese brands ending their collaborations with him, and despite his public apologies, the backlash continues.
The Chinese Football Federation has protested, and state media outlets have removed content related to Mbappé. Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, took swift action by meeting with the Chinese ambassador to Spain and offering apologies to the Chinese people on behalf of the league. Tebas emphasized that the actions of one individual should not harm the relationships built with local partners and supporters.
In contrast to Tebas' response, Real Madrid aims to preserve its commercial relationships with China and views Mbappé's comments as a personal expression without intent to offend. According to reports from OK Diario, the club maintains that its agreements with Chinese sponsors remain unchanged. This stance has been met with resistance from China Media Group, which owns CCTV.
A spokesperson for China Media Group's Sports and Youth Center publicly rejected Real Madrid's explanation, stating that Mbappé's comments caused offense to the Chinese people and exceeded the limits of free expression. The spokesperson emphasized that as Mbappé's club, Real Madrid bears significant responsibility for his actions.
China Media Group has refused to validate Real Madrid's assertion that its Chinese partnerships are unaffected, warning the club that it cannot ignore the anger sparked by this incident. The group has suspended further discussions with Real Madrid until the club issues a public apology.
The controversy has led to a diplomatic and media standoff, with Real Madrid seeking to separate Mbappé's personal comments from its commercial commitments. However, this strategy has not been enough to appease the Chinese side, which now demands a public apology from the club.
As the situation unfolds, Real Madrid faces pressure to reconsider its stance and address the concerns of its Chinese partners and fans. The club's decision not to apologize has been met with criticism, and it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact its relationships with Chinese sponsors and the wider football community.
Key points
- Real Madrid refuses to apologize to China over Kylian Mbappé's comments
- China Media Group demands a public apology from Real Madrid
- The controversy has sparked a diplomatic and media standoff between Real Madrid and China
