French football authorities are backing Kylian Mbappe after the forward apologized for calling former Chinese leader Mao Zedong a dictator during a deleted podcast appearance. The remark referenced a satirical meme about the player's club influence, but it quickly provoked strong commercial blowback across China. In response to the diplomatic strain, La Liga president Javier Tebas created a crisis unit and met directly with China's ambassador to Spain. Meanwhile, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is taking the player's formal apology seriously.
Key points
Football authorities in Spain and France acted rapidly to contain the diplomatic fallout…: Football authorities in Spain and France acted rapidly to contain the diplomatic fallout from the podcast comments.
The forward faces significant commercial setbacks in China, where satire of the nation's…: The forward faces significant commercial setbacks in China, where satire of the nation's founding leader remains taboo.
Chinese foreign ministry officials signaled that the government is treating the formal ap…: Chinese foreign ministry officials signaled that the government is treating the formal apologies with serious consideration.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe should be allowed to move on after apology to China, says French football federation chief.
French Football Federation chief Philippe Diallo said Kylian Mbappe should be allowed to move on amid controversy over the France captain referring to former Chinese leader Mao Zedong as a dictator because the player has apologised and intended no offence.
Mbappe’s club Real Madrid and La Liga have also apologised following the remarks, while the league’s president Javier Tebas set up a crisis unit and met Chinese ambassador to Spain, Yao Jing, on Wednesday as Spanish football sought to contain the fallout.
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The backlash highlights the risks for athletes and brands in the lucrative Chinese market, where satire about Mao, modern China’s founding leader who governed the country from 1949 until his…
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