La Liga distances itself from Mbappé after Mao controversy in China

Kylian Mbappé, second in the 2026 Ballon d’Or behind Harry Kane, sparked a heated controversy in China after calling Mao Zedong a “Chinese dictator”. Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, announced that the organisation was distancing itself from the Frenchman’s remarks and offered official apologies to the Chinese people. The decision comes as public broadcaster CCTV has suspended the broadcast of La Liga matches in China.

The Ballon d’Or ranking and the controversial remark

The 27‑year‑old striker, who plays for Real Madrid, was asked during the Ballon d’Or ceremony which meme made him laugh the most. He replied that the image depicting him in a dictator’s outfit, with his face replacing Mao’s, made him “laugh” and he used it “with his friends”. The comment was perceived as an insult to Chinese national sentiments.

Following the clip’s spread on social media, the league responded quickly. On X, Javier Tebas said that Mbappé’s remarks had caused discontent and outrage in China, and that La Liga deeply regretted those statements. He recalled that La Liga has maintained for years a relationship based on respect and cooperation with Chinese authorities and fans.

Commercial and diplomatic repercussions

Three major Chinese companies terminated their contracts with the footballer immediately. Mengniu, a dairy producer, and Dongpeng, a beverage company, posted statements on Weibo asserting their “zero tolerance” for any act that offends national sentiments. The two brands therefore ended their partnerships with the Real Madrid forward.

La Liga also intervenes in Kylian Mbappé controversy with China

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press conference that any remarks hurting the Chinese people are naturally rejected by society. He emphasized that China, the second‑most‑populated country, represents a crucial market for La Liga and its clubs.

Javier Tebas stressed that La Liga could not allow an individual’s behaviour to tarnish its relationship with China or harm the more than 20 clubs in its professional competitions. He announced that the league is working directly with its Chinese partners to overcome the crisis and implement cultural‑sensitivity measures.

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Kylian Mbappé issued on Tuesday morning an apology statement, translated into Mandarin, expressing his deep respect for the Chinese people and acknowledging that his words had hurt many individuals. He affirmed that his intention was not to provoke and offered his regrets to all those affected.