Discipline
Mbappé loses Chinese sponsors and faces broadcast ban over Mao Zedong comments
Chinese companies Dongpeng and Mengniu have ended their deals with the Real Madrid forward, while state broadcaster CCTV has suspended coverage of his LaLiga matches.
FootVal Newsroom
Kylian Mbappé is at the centre of a growing controversy in China after a video surfaced in which the Real Madrid forward refers to Mao Zedong as a 'Chinese dictator' and appears to joke about memes of the former leader. According to L'Équipe and RMC Sport, the clip has provoked widespread anger in the country.
Chinese companies Dongpeng and Mengniu are among the sponsors that have announced the termination of their commercial agreements with Mbappé, accusing him of hurting 'national sentiments', RMC Sport reports. A third Chinese partner is also said to have severed ties, according to RMC Sport.
The Chinese government has since entered the dispute. L'Équipe reports that Beijing described public rejection of Mbappé as 'natural', while Foot Mercato noted the government's formal reaction marked a significant escalation of the affair.
The consequences have now extended to television: according to RMC Sport, citing the EFE news agency, China Central Television (CCTV) has suspended the broadcast of LaLiga matches featuring Mbappé. The 27-year-old, who has scored 11 goals in 10 appearances for Real Madrid this season, has not commented publicly on the matter.
Sources
This article is based on reports by:
- L'Équipe — Des entreprises chinoises rompent avec Kylian Mbappé et l'accusent d'avoir heurté « les sentiments nationaux »
- RMC Sport — Des propos "extrêmement graves et inappropriés": Kylian Mbappé perd deux contrats en Chine après avoir comparé Mao Zedong à un dictateur
- Record — Empresa chinesa rompe contrato com Mbappé após comentários sobre 'memes' de Mao Zedong
- Foot Mercato — Le gouvernement chinois réagit à la polémique autour de Kylian Mbappé
Written by the FootVal newsroom from the reports below, with figures from FootVal’s own database. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. · How we report