Kylian Mbappe’s comments about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong have highlighted the financial dependence of European football on China and Beijing’s ability to exert pressure through broadcasting and commercial partnerships.
The fallout reached La Liga’s television rights and Mbappe’s sponsorship agreements, prompting apologies from Real Madrid and La Liga president Javier Tebas as they sought to contain the dispute.
The controversy began after a video interview circulated showing Mbappe’s face superimposed on a satirical image of a Chinese political figure. He described the figure as a Chinese dictator but did not name Mao Zedong. The image was nevertheless widely linked to the former leader and prompted anger on Chinese social media.
Mbappe apologised for hurting the feelings of people in China and elsewhere. Real Madrid also issued an apology to the Chinese people, while Tebas attempted to calm the situation. The statements did not immediately resolve the dispute.
Chinese companies, including Mengniu Dairy Group, Shanghai Milkground and Dongpeng Beverages, reportedly ended their commercial relationships with the France international. The move threatens his advertising income and future opportunities in the Chinese market. French newspaper Le Monde estimated that some of the terminated agreements were worth about 50m yuan (£6.7m).
Why China matters
China is important to football because of its broadcasting audience, commercial sponsorship opportunities, advertising market and potential for product sales.
In August 2026, La Liga announced a deal with Migu, a platform owned by China Mobile, making it the exclusive online broadcasting partner in mainland China for the four seasons from 2026-27 to 2029-30. The agreement includes all 380 matches in each season.
Real Madrid could face reduced sales of shirts and other products, fewer sponsorship opportunities and a decline in the marketing value of its players. Mbappe’s immediate commercial losses are more clearly defined because Chinese companies have already withdrawn from agreements with him.
There have been several comparable disputes involving international sport.
In 2019, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey posted a message supporting protests in Hong Kong. China suspended broadcasts of NBA games, and the league was absent from Chinese television for about 18 months before returning in March 2022. Morey was not dismissed to appease China. US reports estimated the commercial damage at hundreds of millions of dollars, although figures varied according to the period and scope of the calculations.
In December 2019, former Germany international Mesut Ozil criticised China’s treatment of its Muslim Uyghur minority. Chinese television removed Arsenal’s match against Manchester City from its schedule, while Arsenal distanced itself from the comments and said they represented the player’s personal view.
Other sporting disputes
The WTA suspended all its tournaments in China and Hong Kong in December 2021 after Chinese player Peng Shuai disappeared from public view following her allegation that a senior Chinese official had sexually assaulted her. The organisation demanded proof of her safety and a transparent investigation.
China hosted nine WTA events in the 2019 season, including the WTA Finals. Reuters reported that the suspension could cost the organisation hundreds of millions of dollars. The WTA resumed tournaments in April 2023 after about 16 months, saying the boycott had imposed substantial financial costs on players and events despite insufficient progress on its original demands.
Chinese broadcasters also withheld Premier League matches in March 2022 during a weekend featuring solidarity initiatives for Ukraine, including players wearing armbands in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
These cases demonstrate the reach of China’s sporting boycotts, driven by its economic influence and the size of a market that clubs, players and competition organisers fear losing.
