China gives no indication that Mbappe apology will end La Liga and Real Madrid boycott

China’s foreign ministry has acknowledged Kylian Mbappe’s apology over remarks about the Chinese people, but has offered no indication that the boycott imposed on the France forward, La Liga and Real Madrid will be lifted.

Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun was asked on Wednesday whether China would consider ending the measures after Mbappe’s statement.

“We attach importance to the apology made by the person concerned,” he said, according to Spanish news agency EFE.

When pressed on whether the apology could lead to the boycott being withdrawn, Guo repeated the same response without elaborating.

Mbappe describes comments as a ‘slip of the tongue’

Mbappe published a formal apology on Tuesday in French, Chinese and English. He described his original comments as a “slip of the tongue” and acknowledged that his words had hurt many people in China and members of Chinese communities overseas.

The Real Madrid forward also expressed his “deep respect” for the Chinese people and their history.

The controversy began during an interview in which Mbappe said one of his favourite satirical images was a digitally altered picture showing his face on that of a “Chinese dictator”. Although he did not name the figure, the reference was clearly to Mao Zedong.

Mao, who founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949, occupies a central and revered position in the Chinese Communist Party’s national narrative. He is regarded as a symbol of the restoration of sovereignty after the so-called “century of humiliation”, despite the party acknowledging the disasters linked to policies including the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution.

Commercial fallout and suspended broadcasts

The comments were followed by the immediate collapse of major commercial agreements with Chinese companies Dongfeng, Mengniu and Milk Ground.

Restrictions were also placed on Mbappe-related content on digital platforms, while broadcasts of La Liga matches on Chinese state television were suspended from Monday, 26 October.

La Liga moved quickly to try to contain the damage. The league apologised for the offence caused, while its president Javier Tebas met Chinese ambassador to Spain Yao Jing on Tuesday to discuss resolving the dispute and protecting co-operation agreements. Tebas described China as a “strategic partner”.

China Media Group (CMG), which owns the state broadcaster CCTV, said in a statement issued at 18:00 local time on Wednesday that it had received an official apology from Real Madrid to the Chinese people through La Liga.

Extracts from the letter, published by CMG, said: “Our club has deep respect for China, its history, culture and people.” The club also expressed a desire to continue strengthening its relationship with the Asian country and included Mbappe’s public apology.

CMG confirmed it had received both apologies but did not say whether it considered them sufficient. It has not announced any change to its suspension of La Liga broadcasts, Mbappe’s matches or advertisements featuring the player.

Earlier on Wednesday, CMG’s Sports and Youth Centre rejected a Spanish media report claiming that Mbappe’s remarks were a personal expression and were not intended to cause offence.

The organisation said the player’s words had gone beyond the limits of what was acceptable and beyond freedom of expression. It also warned Real Madrid that the club could not avoid responsibility, adding: “Without a satisfactory apology, there is no room for discussion.”