Headline: Kylian Mbappe’s Controversial Comments Spark Backlash in China, Impacting Real Madrid
The fallout from Kylian Mbappe’s remarks about Mao Zedong has generated significant controversy, leading Chinese broadcasters to block La Liga broadcasts. This action reflects an intensifying response to Mbappe’s comments, which have prompted Real Madrid along with La Liga president Javier Tebas to issue apologies.
China remains firm in its stance, utilizing its media channels to criticize Real Madrid and issue warnings.
Chinese media slanders Real Madrid
The backlash from Mbappe’s comments appears to be straining the relationship between La Liga and China. According to MARCA, various Chinese broadcasters and media entities have started to launch criticisms towards Real Madrid in the wake of the Mbappe incident.
Critics highlighted that the club delayed its response for almost 48 hours, only making an official statement on the afternoon of October 28, well after both Mbappe and Tebas had already apologized.
In the meantime, Madrid faced accusations of promoting a video of Mbappe’s 100th goal while claiming to the Spanish media that the player had “only spoken in a personal capacity.”
Accusations of a double standard
Chinese outlets like the Global Times insist that the club “must take responsibility and implement measures,” while the Zhejiang Propaganda Department has criticized Madrid for a perceived pattern of distancing themselves from controversies before eventually returning to silence.
Chinese media compared Madrid’s delayed response now to their immediate condemnation earlier this year when Vinicius Jr. experienced a racist incident, highlighting a disparity in the club’s approach to serious issues.
The financial implications of this situation are significant, as China contributes around 10 to 15 percent of the club’s international merchandise revenue, with Mbappe’s jersey being the top seller. Madrid’s sizeable fanbase in the country, nearly 97 million, marks their largest market outside Spain.
The repercussions of this controversy have already been felt, influencing decisions like suspended CCTV broadcasts, sponsors reevaluating their partnerships, and reports indicate a potential cancellation of an upcoming tour in China. Beijing’s Foreign Ministry described the apology as merely “a starting point,” suggesting that this issue may persist for an extended period.
