Real Madrid apologizes to China over Mbappe's Mao remarks

Real Madrid has issued an apology over French footballer Kylian Mbappe's remarks about Mao Zedong, founder of the People's Republic of China. The club's statement said it holds deep respect for China and the Chinese people, and that it supports Mbappe's apology.

The statement stressed that Real Madrid has millions of fans in China. The club reaffirmed its commitment to the values of respect, coexistence and intercultural understanding, and said it wants to strengthen its bonds of friendship and affection with China.

The incident began during the filming of a television programme in France that Mbappe was taking part in. Asked which of the internet jokes about him he found funny, the footballer referred to a video in which his face was combined with an image of Mao Zedong using artificial intelligence, and said: "The video they made with that guy, I think he was a Chinese dictator."

Following these remarks, China's state broadcaster CCTV suspended the broadcast of La Liga and Real Madrid matches. Several Chinese companies also terminated their advertising contracts with Mbappe.

Guo Ciakun, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded to a question on the matter at a press conference in Beijing. The spokesperson said that any statement or action that hurts the feelings of the Chinese people will be rejected by all sectors of China.