Florentino Pérez refuses to suspend Mbappé despite Chinese boycott
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Zambian Observer
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez refuses to suspend Kylian Mbappé to allow La Liga to return to Chinese television. The dispute with Chinese authorities could cost La Liga up to 100 million euros, following the French forward’s remarks about Mao Zedong, the Zambian Observer reports.
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez refuses to suspend French forward Kylian Mbappé to secure the resumption of La Liga broadcasts in China. “We will not suspend Kylian. China can do what it wants,” he said, according to the Zambian Observer.
Chinese authorities have reportedly demanded that Mbappé be suspended temporarily or permanently as a condition for lifting CCTV’s boycott of La Liga. The dispute followed remarks by the French forward about Mao Zedong, the Zambian media outlet reports.
La Liga could lose up to 100 million euros in revenue if its matches are no longer shown in China. Florentino Pérez says Real Madrid would also accept a financial cost rather than sanction a player he considers innocent, in the name of integrity and mutual respect.
The Chinese television broadcaster’s boycott remained in place on 29 October after Kylian Mbappé’s meme, and CCTV again confirmed on 2 November that Real Madrid matches would remain suspended in China. The dispute follows Chinese television’s suspension of La Liga and the boycott of Real Madrid matches in China.
