Real Madrid Drops Migu Deal After Mbappe Calls Mao a Dictator
The club issued a formal apology on Wednesday, ending a dispute that cost it a prime broadcast slot and three major brand partnerships.
By Rafael Esposito ·
Real Madrid will miss the Migu broadcast slot for its La Liga match against Racing Santander this Sunday. The state-owned Chinese platform is carrying nine of the league's ten games this weekend, but the Madrid fixture is the only one excluded.
The exclusion follows a sharp backlash in China over remarks made by forward Kylian Mbappe. On a French podcast that has since been removed, Mbappe discussed a meme featuring his face superimposed on a photo. He described the figure as a Chinese dictator. The image depicted Mao Zedong, the founding leader of modern China who ruled from 1949 until his death in 1976.
Real Madrid released a statement on Wednesday, 2026-10-28, expressing apologies to the Chinese people for any discomfort caused by the player's words. The club said it maintains deep respect for China's history, culture, and citizens, as well as its millions of fans. The statement came after earlier apologies from Mbappe and La Liga failed to calm the negative reaction.
La Liga President Javier Tebas established a crisis unit and met with Chinese ambassador Yao Jing. Tebas is considering a trip to China to mitigate potential financial losses for Spanish football. The league is also weighing deeper institutional engagement with Beijing. Chinese state television is awaiting further gestures of reconciliation.
The commercial impact has extended beyond broadcasting. Dairy companies Mengniu and Shanghai Milkground Food Tech, along with beverage maker Eastroc, have ended all cooperation with Mbappe. The incident has strained the relationship between the club and the league, which had recently called for Tebas's resignation amid a power struggle. Both sides set aside their differences to address the immediate financial threat.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday that officials take the apology seriously. The episode highlights the commercial stakes for athletes in the Chinese market, where satire of Mao remains a social taboo.
Migu did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. The Real Madrid match against Racing Santander is scheduled for Sunday.
Source: Al Jazeera
