Kylian Mbappe has been drawn into a political controversy after comments about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong prompted a strong reaction in China, with an influential United States lawmaker saying the Real Madrid forward has no reason to apologise.
John Moolenaar, chairman of the United States House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, defended the France captain and criticised what he described as a wider willingness to yield to pressure from the Chinese government.
The intervention adds a new dimension to the dispute between Mbappe and China, according to French outlet Foot Mercato, and places the footballer at the centre of tensions extending beyond the sport.
The controversy began after a video emerged in which Mbappe described Mao as a dictator. Since then, several Chinese brands have ended their partnerships with the France international.
The Chinese Football Association has also lodged a protest, while a Chinese media group called for Real Madrid to issue a public apology. It held the Spanish club responsible for comments made by one of its players.
Real Madrid, La Liga president Javier Tebas and Mbappe have all released statements apologising to China in an attempt to ease the dispute, which has developed over the past two days.
Moolenaar took the opposite position, condemning what he regards as a capitulation to the Chinese regime.
In a statement issued by the select committee, the Republican representative for Michigan said: “Global football star Kylian Mbappe should not apologise for calling Mao Zedong a dictator. Mao was a dictator, and he inflicted more harm on the Chinese people than any comment a footballer could make.”
He added: “His dictatorship and disastrous policies killed tens of millions of Chinese people during the Cultural Revolution, the Great Famine and other atrocities.”
Moolenaar also criticised companies that had distanced themselves from Mbappe to protect their commercial interests in China.
“The real shame in this story is the companies that rush to apologise so they can continue doing business in China,” he said.
The lawmaker’s comments offer Mbappe support from an unexpected source, but come after the player, Real Madrid and Tebas had already sought to calm the reaction through their apologies. The issue has therefore moved from a dispute over a footballer’s remarks into a more prominent political argument involving Beijing, Washington and the commercial relationships of major sports organisations.
