Kylian Mbappé’s controversy over the Mao Zedong meme has sparked tensions with China. China Media Group (CMG) rejected Real Madrid’s initial apology and suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches. The controversy’s impact extends to the commercial sector. Three Chinese companies have reportedly terminated their contracts with Mbappé. Real Madrid is also facing potential losses from sponsorships and merchandise sales. Around 15 percent of the club’s global jersey sales are said to come from China, including Mbappé’s number 10 shirt.
The controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappe in China is heating up. Real Madrid’s apology has apparently not been enough to quell the anger of the Chinese public and media authorities.
The issue that initially started with Mbappe’s personal joke regarding a meme of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong has now escalated into a high-profile business dispute.
According to a report by Mundo Deportivo, China Media Group (CMG), a Chinese state television station, has publicly rejected Real Madrid’s initial apology .
CMG stressed that a club as big as Madrid shares responsibility for its player’s statements, while demanding a more appropriate and substantial apology before further negotiations can be opened.
“Until Real Madrid issues a proper apology, there is nothing to discuss,” the broadcaster’s representative stressed.
As a form of real protest, CMG immediately imposed severe sanctions by suspending all broadcasts of La Liga matches, especially matches involving Real Madrid , and removing all promotional materials featuring Mbappé.
This pressure forced Los Blancos management to act swiftly. On Wednesday (October 28, 2026), Real Madrid finally released an official statement containing a public apology to the Chinese people , reaffirming their deep respect for the country’s culture and history, and fully supporting the player’s expressed regret.
Although CMG confirmed receiving the written apology through La Liga, there is no certainty as to when the broadcast blockade will be lifted.
The impact of this crisis has also spread to the commercial sector. Three major Chinese companies have officially terminated their contracts with Mbappé.
The Kylian Mbappe case even had an impact on the world of eSports, where Mbappe’s card was also removed from the Chinese version of eFootball and reportedly also from FC Online.
Potential Losses
Although Mbappé reportedly has a special image rights scheme that gives him a larger share than the club’s usual standard, Real Madrid still reaps substantial profits from the player’s commercial portfolio.
Mass contract terminations in China automatically have the potential to erode this portion of revenue.
Not only sponsorship matters, the merchandise sales line is also a vulnerable point.
