LaLiga: Javier Tebas apologises to China after Mbappé controversy

LaLiga president LaLiga, Javier Tebas, apologised to the Chinese people after comments attributed to Kylian Mbappé about Mao Zedong. The controversy has already had consequences for the Spanish league, whose broadcasts have been suspended by Chinese state television.

The Real Madrid striker has found himself at the centre of a controversy that has now gone beyond the sporting sphere. A few days before the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, the France international reportedly cited, among the memes that amuse him most, one comparing him to Mao Zedong, the former Chinese leader described in the source article as a dictator.

The comments sparked reactions in China. The country’s authorities decided to suspend the broadcast of LaLiga matches on public television, according to reports in the Spanish press. The decision threatens the league’s visibility in an important market.

Read also: 2026 Ballon d’Or: Kylian Mbappé loses two sponsors after his failure

Tebas wants to preserve relations with China

Faced with this situation, Javier Tebas responded on the social network X on behalf of LaLiga. The executive expressed his regret and apologised to the Chinese people, while highlighting the relationship established between the two sides over several years.

“At LaLiga, we deeply regret Kylian Mbappé’s comments, which caused discontent and offended China,” said the organisation’s president. He also acknowledged the damage caused and conveyed his apologies to the Chinese people on behalf of the Spanish league.

Javier Tebas recalled that LaLiga maintained cooperative relations with the Chinese authorities, sports institutions, broadcasters and local supporters. He stressed the need to protect these ties so that an individual incident would not penalise Spanish professional clubs or the millions of Chinese supporters.

LaLiga announces steps to resolve the crisis

The LaLiga president also assured that measures were under way to try to resolve the dispute quickly. The organisation said it was working directly with its partners and contacts in China.

“Our commitment to China, its people and its institutions is firm. A relationship built over so many years cannot be compromised by an individual incident,” he added.

Beyond the controversy surrounding Mbappé, the suspension of the broadcasts raises questions about the commercial consequences of the affair. LaLiga is now seeking to restore dialogue with its Chinese partners, while clubs and broadcasters could be affected if the situation continues.

Nouya M'toama

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Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

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