China’s football association demands apologies from Mbappé and Real Madrid
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Nouvelle Tribune
The Chinese Football Association is demanding public apologies from Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid after the player’s remarks hurt people in China. Mbappé has apologised on social media, while the association says it wants to defend mutual respect in international exchanges, reports La Nouvelle Tribune.
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) demanded formal public apologies from Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid on Tuesday 27 October 2026 after the French striker’s remarks about Mao. In a statement published on its Weibo account, it denounced words that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people, according to La Nouvelle Tribune.
The CFA called on internationally renowned sportspeople to respect their limits and protect their public influence. It also announced that it intended to use international multilateral platforms to defend mutual respect in football. Real Madrid reportedly has 127 million supporters in China, according to Nielsen data.
The apology Mbappé published has not ended the measures taken by China Media Group, China’s public broadcaster. On 26 October, it had suspended broadcasts of La Liga and matches involving the player, while also withdrawing his adverts. Its spokesperson said: “We listen to his words, but above all we watch his actions,” reports La Nouvelle Tribune.
The CFA’s demand comes after Mbappé apologised for his remarks about Mao, in a statement published on 27 October. On the same day, La Liga apologised to China and its president, Javier Tebas, described the striker’s behaviour as “unacceptable”, according to La Nouvelle Tribune.
