Real Madrid, LaLiga apology over Mbappe shows power of Chinese market

Real Madrid and LaLiga issued apologies on Tuesday amid a Chinese boycott triggered by Kylian Mbappe's remarks about Mao Zedong. The incident began when a meme surfaced, depicting Mbappe as Mao, a figure he refers to as a "Chinese dictator." Three sponsors have since dropped the French forward, and Chinese state TV halted the broadcasting of Spanish league matches, threatening LaLiga's global expansion efforts.

LaLiga's president, Javier Tebas, and Mbappe, along with the Spanish giants, have apologized, but the controversy persists. Chinese and U.S. investors collectively fund the majority of LaLiga's international broadcasting rights, valued at €748 million (US$834 million) for the 2024-25 season. LaLiga has tailored its match schedule to Asian time zones since 2016, increasing viewership and the value of its international TV rights.

The Spanish league's fan base in China has grown significantly since 2016, and Real Madrid generates between 10 and 15 percent of its jersey and merchandise sales from the Chinese market. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona have substantial investments in China, with Real Madrid's president, Florentino Perez, having business ties in China and Hong Kong.

The football clubs have also played pre-season friendlies in Asia against Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean teams. Barcelona, which boasts more supporters in Asia than in Europe and America combined, opened football academies in the country as part of a development agreement with Chinese sports institutions.