28th October 2026 – (Madrid) La Liga president Javier Tebas said in the early hours of Wednesday, 28th October, that he had met China’s ambassador to Spain, Yao Jing, to discuss the controversy triggered by recent remarks made by Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé and to seek a resolution. The French international apologised on Tuesday, 27th October, after an interview clip circulated and prompted mainland state media to drop coverage and several brands to end partnerships. The French programme The Bridge, which aired the material, also issued a bilingual apology the same evening.
Tebas publicly apologised and cautioned that an individual’s conduct can affect the entire competition. He stressed that La Liga has worked closely for years with Chinese authorities, football bodies, audiovisual operators and enterprises to promote Spanish football in China, adding that existing collaborations — notably a strategic partnership signed with Chinese football authorities and valid until 2029, and arrangements with China Media Group — should continue to succeed. He underlined that the relationship is founded on mutual respect, trust and cooperation, and that China remains a strategic partner now and in the future.
Real Madrid, for its part, characterised the remarks as the player’s personal expression and noted that Mbappé has clarified his comments. The club said Chinese sponsors understand the situation, existing agreements have not been terminated and cooperation remains unchanged. The Bridge stated via its official channels that the contentious video, released on Monday, 26th October, was behind‑the‑scenes footage recorded in April, in which Mbappé reacted to images circulating on social media. It expressed regret for the offence caused in China and elsewhere, and offered apologies to anyone who felt hurt, to Mbappé, to his partners and to any organisations whose ties with China or the Chinese public may have been affected.