Philippe Diallo calls the controversy around Mbappé “a little exaggerated”

“The controversy around Mbappé is exaggerated”: that is the view expressed by Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation (FFF), after the France captain’s comments about Mao Zedong. Speaking to Ouest-France, he also described the dispute as “a little exaggerated.”

The controversy followed a clip from the podcast The Bridge that went viral. Mbappé discussed an edited image combining his face with that of a man he thought was “a Chinese dictator.” He did not name Mao Zedong, but his comments drew criticism in China. Diallo said he did not believe the player had intended to damage the image of a Chinese leader or offend the Chinese people. “I believe this is a controversy that should not last, at least I hope it won’t,” he said.

The FFF president also urged people to move on. He believes Mbappé explained the context of his remarks clearly and apologized. “We should leave it there now, so that he can continue his season in the best possible conditions,” he added.

The fallout is already affecting the forward. Three companies that used his name and image announced on Tuesday morning that they were ending their partnerships with him with immediate effect. In China, he also appears to be gradually disappearing from public view: advertisements featuring him have been withdrawn, his shirt has become unavailable and his social media accounts are blocked, according to the reported details.

The controversy touches on a sensitive subject because of the reference to Mao. Jean-François Di Meglio, president of the Asia Centre’s steering committee, explained that irony directed at Mao could be seen as a challenge to China’s leaders. He summed up that sensitivity this way: “We are dealing with an absolute taboo.”

The scope of any potential boycott remains unclear: France’s next match is scheduled for November 12, and it is not yet known whether measures in China will also affect the national team’s games.