Philippe Diallo backs Mbappé and French team in China controversy

A heated controversy erupted after Kylian Mbappé joked about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, sparking an outcry in China. The president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, stepped in to back the captain of the French national team amid the turmoil that is shaking its commercial relations with China.

La Liga and Real Madrid have abandoned Mbappé in this matter.

FFF president steps in

Mbappé can count on Philippe Diallo to defend him regarding the controversy stemming from a clip of the show The Bridge. “I have seen this controversy, which is certainly a bit too strong. I do not think Kylian intended, in any way, to damage the image of a Chinese leader, nor to insult or offend the Chinese people,” said the FFF president. He added that he hoped the controversy would not last.

Mbappé at the center of a Chinese crisis after a clip about Mao

Chinese boycott expands

In the video, the Frenchman of Real Madrid reacts to memes that often depict him in a dictator’s outfit, due to alleged authoritarianism in his dressing room. The captain of the French national team explained that the funniest meme he had seen was a montage of his face over that of a man he believes to be a Chinese dictator. This joke triggered a massive outcry in the world’s second most populous country, China.

Mao Zedong, leader of the communist revolution, founded the Chinese Communist Party and established the People’s Republic of China, a regime described as dictatorial by many observers. Jean‑François Di Meglio, chairman of the Advisory Council of Asia Centre, reminded that any irony directed at Mao is an absolute taboo in China. Three major companies using Mbappé’s name and image announced on Tuesday morning the immediate termination of their collaborations with the player.

Chinese controversy and Kane's overtaking put Mbappé under pressure

The Chinese government, which had said it took the 27‑year‑old footballer’s apologies seriously, also protested. However, the player’s apologies have not yet managed to calm the situation. China Media Group, which had already suspended the broadcast of Liga matches involving the French star, removed the upcoming Real Madrid match in Santander scheduled for Sunday. The other Spanish league fixtures slated for this weekend remain scheduled on the Migu platform. It is still unclear whether the boycott will extend to all matches featuring Mbappé, including those of the French national team, whose next encounter is set for November 12. In China, the player sees his advertisements withdrawn, his jersey unavailable and his social media blocked, a sign of a gradual disappearance from the public sphere.