La Liga Daily Report - 2026-10-28: Real Madrid apologises to China over Mbappé comments

Real Madrid apologised to the Chinese people on Wednesday after Kylian Mbappé’s comments about a Mao Zedong meme caused a backlash. The forward had discussed an edited image showing his face over a figure resembling Mao, whom he described as a Chinese dictator, during an interview for the French programme The Bridge. The clip circulated online before being removed, prompting criticism in China and commercial consequences for Mbappé. The club’s statement came a day after the player and LaLiga issued their own apologies, underlining how the controversy had moved beyond an individual’s remarks and become an issue for Spanish football’s wider commercial relationships.

The apology placed Real Madrid directly into an effort to contain the dispute, which had already led Chinese companies to end agreements with Mbappé and state television to suspend LaLiga broadcasts. France 24 reported that the club expressed regret for any offence caused and joined the player’s public apology. The episode demonstrated the pressure on major European clubs when global commercial interests collide with political sensitivities in important markets. Real Madrid’s response was therefore not simply a public-relations gesture: it was an attempt to protect the club’s standing with Chinese supporters and businesses while distancing the institution from further fallout.

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LaLiga president Javier Tebas met China’s ambassador to Spain, Yao Jing, on Wednesday to discuss the fallout from Kylian Mbappé’s comments. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV had suspended evening broadcasts of LaLiga matches and coverage of games involving the Real Madrid forward after the controversy over a meme comparing Mbappé with Mao Zedong. Tebas said the meeting was intended to find solutions and move beyond the incident. The suspension created a direct commercial problem for Spain’s top division, which has worked with Chinese authorities, broadcasters, football organisations and businesses to expand the league’s audience in the country.

Tebas’s intervention showed that the dispute had become a league-level matter rather than a private controversy involving one player. According to ESPN, LaLiga has partnership arrangements with Chinese organisations, including a strategic agreement with the Chinese Professional Football League running until 2029. That commercial backdrop explains the urgency of the talks and the league’s public apology to Chinese supporters. Even with Mbappé, Real Madrid and LaLiga all expressing regret, the broadcast suspension left Spanish football attempting to repair a relationship that supports its international reach and business interests.

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Kylian Mbappé apologised on Tuesday after comments about a Mao Zedong meme triggered criticism in China and cost him commercial partnerships. In a statement, the Real Madrid forward said his comment was “ill-judged”, acknowledged that it had hurt people in China and Chinese communities worldwide, and expressed “deep respect for the Chinese people and their history”. Beverage maker Dongpeng, dairy company Mengniu and cheese producer Milkground subsequently said they were ending agreements with the French international, citing opposition to words or actions that hurt national sentiment.

China’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that it took Mbappé’s apology seriously, although the commercial consequences continued and his team’s matches remained unavailable to viewers in China. The response left the player facing a wider business crisis than the original online controversy, with brand relationships and his public image both affected. Mbappé’s apology was intended to calm the dispute, but the statements from the three companies showed that the immediate costs had already extended beyond criticism on social media. His position also became central to the broader confrontation involving Real Madrid and LaLiga.

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Espanyol appointed Eder Sarabia as their new head coach on Wednesday, handing him a contract until 30 June 2028. The 46-year-old replaced Manolo González, whose three-and-a-half-year association with the club ended on Tuesday after Espanyol’s 4-3 extra-time defeat by fourth-tier Sestao River in the Copa del Rey. The result eliminated the Catalan side from the competition and followed what Blueprint Newspapers described as a disappointing start to the 2026-27 season. Sarabia previously worked as Quique Setién’s assistant at Barcelona and had also represented Espanyol as a player.

The appointment gives Sarabia an immediate task of improving Espanyol’s league position and restoring confidence after the cup exit. Blueprint reported that the club were seeking to recover their competitive form and move away from the relegation zone, making the change a significant early-season intervention rather than a routine managerial adjustment. Sarabia’s previous connection with the club offers a familiar figure as Espanyol attempt to reset their campaign, while the length of his contract indicates that the board sees him as a longer-term solution. His first priority will be to convert the change in leadership into results.

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