China’s foreign ministry takes Mbappé apology seriously

China’s foreign ministry has said it takes seriously the apology from Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, while La Liga president Javier Tebas says he has met China’s ambassador to Spain to look for a way to resolve the dispute.

Mbappé apologised on 27 October in a statement in French, Chinese and English, after a clip of him discussing a meme angered many in China and led at least three Chinese brands to end their deals with him.

What did China’s foreign ministry say about Mbappé?

Foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun addressed the apology at a regular press briefing on 28 October. “We take seriously the apology he has made,” Guo said when asked about it.

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Earlier in the dispute, Guo had said that words and actions that hurt the feelings of Chinese people would meet rejection from all sectors of Chinese society.

How have La Liga and Real Madrid responded?

Tebas said in a post on X that he met Chinese ambassador Yao Jing to seek solutions. He called the episode a single incident that should not undermine the progress La Liga has made in China or affect Chinese fans. He also described China as a strategic partner for La Liga.

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According to Tebas, La Liga has worked with Chinese authorities, football bodies, broadcasters and businesses to grow the popularity of Spanish football in China. La Liga also has a cooperation agreement with China Media Group, which oversees CCTV.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, apologised to the Chinese people on 28 October for any discomfort caused by Mbappé’s recent words. The club said it has deep respect for China and its people. That follows a call from China Media Group for Real Madrid to apologise before any discussion could take place.