Soccer star Kylian Mbappe said he was sorry for referring to China’s former leader Mao Zedong as a dictator on “The Bridge” podcast.
Mbappe’s biggest sponsors in China responded swiftly. Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground — which produce beverages, dairy and cheese, respectively — announced they ended their agreements with the Frenchman.
“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” Mbappe said Tuesday in a statement. “I apologize to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry.”
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The apology was the first step in mending a relationship that quickly deteriorated. The Chinese Football Association demanded a “public and formal apology” from Mbappe and his club team, Real Madrid.
The blowback hit hard. The China Media Group announced that it would suspend plans to broadcast games from La Liga, the Spanish league that features elite clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona.
La Liga officials said in a statement that the organization “deeply regrets the offense caused to Chinese fans by Mbappe’s recent comments. These remarks were made in a personal capacity and do not represent La Liga.”
The league further noted that it plans to create a new protocol between players and clubs to prevent further incidents in China.
This story is based in part on wire service reports.
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