(PRIMASPORT) CHINA The controversy between Kylian Mbappé and China, sparked by a joke the French striker made about leader Mao Zedong during the Ballon d'Or ceremony, is far from resolved. Although Beijing has formally accepted the player's apology, the boycott of Mbappé, Real Madrid, and La Liga persists. Three of the player's sponsors have severed all ties with him, while Chinese state television continues to suspend Spanish football matches.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it took Mbappé's apology seriously, but the outcry on social media in China shows no sign of abating. Real Madrid also released an official statement apologizing to the Chinese people, emphasizing respect for Chinese culture and fans, but this has not changed Beijing's position.
This crisis has revealed Europe's fragility in the face of Chinese economic power, with La Liga emphasizing that China and the United States alone account for the majority of international television rights (€748 million in 2024-25). Furthermore, Spanish clubs derive significant revenue from Asian sponsors and Chinese markets, including commercial agreements and football academies in the country.
The confrontation between Western and Chinese culture has thus transformed into a sporting and commercial dispute, with Beijing continuing to maintain its embargo despite apologies and attempts at mediation. (PRIMASPORT)
