China Media Group says it will watch Mbappé’s actions

“We will listen to his words, but watch his actions much more closely”: China Media Group has responded to Mbappé, while also warning Real Madrid and Javier Tebas. The Chinese state broadcaster said the forward’s apology would be assessed through his conduct from here on.

The controversy followed the circulation of a clip from the French programme The Bridge. Mbappé discussed a meme that superimposed his face on Mao Zedong, the founding leader of the People’s Republic of China. He described the funniest image he had seen of himself as one showing him alongside “a guy — I think he’s a Chinese dictator”.

His remarks have brought growing commercial repercussions in China: several sponsors have ended their relationships with the Frenchman, while broadcasts of Spanish football have been interrupted in the country. In a statement published on X, the Real Madrid player apologised in Chinese, French and English, acknowledging that his words were misguided and had hurt Chinese communities around the world. He also called his response to an image circulating on social media “thoughtless” and recognised that it had hurt people in China and Chinese communities elsewhere.

China Media Group called on Mbappé, Real Madrid and LaLiga to learn from the affair, apologise sincerely and correct their mistakes. Javier Tebas, LaLiga’s president, met China’s ambassador to Spain and sent a letter to China Central Television to apologise publicly for Mbappé’s comments.

The stakes extend beyond the immediate reaction. Real Madrid retains a share of the income generated by its players’ image rights. Mbappé’s advertising income is estimated at around 30 million euros a year, and a fall in his earnings could also affect the club’s share. China also accounts for approximately 15% of Real Madrid’s worldwide shirt sales. The controversy could therefore carry commercial consequences beyond the player himself.