La Liga president Javier Tebas has apologised to China following the controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s remarks about a meme comparing him to Chinese dictator Mao Zedong.
The incident has sparked a diplomatic and commercial headache for Spanish football, with Chinese television announcing the suspension of La Liga broadcasts.
In a statement published on X, Tebas acknowledged the offence caused by the Real Madrid forward’s comments and insisted that the league was working to resolve the situation.
Tebas apologises to Chinese fans over Mbappe remarks
Tebas issued a direct apology on behalf of La Liga, acknowledging the impact of Mbappe’s comments on Chinese audiences.
“La Liga deeply regrets the dissatisfaction and offense caused in China by the remarks made by Kylian Mbappe. We understand the harm caused by these remarks. On behalf of La Liga, I extend our sincere apologies to the Chinese people,” Tebas wrote.
The league president also highlighted the long-standing relationship between Spanish football and China, stressing that the controversy should not undermine years of cooperation.
“Over the years, we have built a relationship of mutual respect, trust, and cooperation with China and its government departments, sports organizations, audiovisual media institutions, and millions of fans who love Spanish football,” he added.
“We cannot allow individual actions to damage this relationship, nor can we let more than 20 clubs in our professional competitions and millions of Chinese fans be adversely affected as a result.”
Tebas concluded his message by confirming that efforts were underway to repair the damage and restore relations.
“We are taking every possible measure and directly engaging with our partners and relevant parties in China to resolve the current situation. Our commitment to China, the Chinese people, and relevant Chinese institutions remains unwavering.
“This relationship, built over many years, cannot be undermined by an isolated incident.”
La Liga announces measures following Mbappe controversy
La Liga also published a separate official statement addressing the controversy and clarifying that Mbappe’s comments did not represent the organisation’s position.
“LA LIGA deeply regrets the offense caused by Kylian Mbappe’s recent comments among Chinese fans. These comments were made in a personal capacity and do not represent LA LIGA.
“To the extent of our institutional responsibility, we apologize on behalf of LA LIGA and all its clubs.”
“Spanish football upholds respect, coexistence, and unity among people of all cultures. We convey our respect to China, its institutions, and its people, and we deeply value the support of the millions of fans who follow us each week.
“We reaffirm our commitment to a relationship built over years.”
Concluding, the La Liga official statement noted: “We are working with our partners and institutional interlocutors in China to address this situation.
“Likewise, in collaboration with the clubs and players, we will implement a protocol for awareness and communication that promotes respect for different cultures and helps prevent similar situations.”
The announcement signals that La Liga intends to address the issue beyond its immediate diplomatic response, with the proposed protocol designed to improve cultural awareness and communication among players and clubs.
The meme that triggered the controversy
The controversy began when Mbappe was asked during a recent interview to identify his favourite meme.
The French forward responded by referring to an image that superimposed his face onto that of a Chinese dictator.
“The one that made me laugh the most is the one where they use my face on a Chinese dictator. I use it a lot with my friends,” Mbappe said.
Although the remark was made jokingly, it triggered a backlash in China. The resulting suspension of La Liga broadcasts has raised concerns about the potential impact on the league’s relationship with Chinese broadcasters and its sizeable audience in the country.
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