Kylian Mbappé faces lawsuits as Chinese sponsors seek repayment
Broadcasters in China have removed matches featuring Mbappé and some Chinese sponsors may sue to reclaim payments worth millions.
Kylian Mbappé is confronting mounting legal and commercial fallout after comments that sparked outrage in China, with broadcasters removing his matches and sponsors reportedly preparing lawsuits that could force him to return millions of dollars.
The episode began when Mbappé reacted to a circulating photo and meme that referenced Mao Zedong. The Real Madrid forward issued a public apology: "In my last interview, reacting to a picture of me. The words I said were inappropriate, and I now understand that they hurt many people in China and the Chinese community around the world. I apologise to all who felt hurt by my words. This was truly not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history and I sincerely regret that."
Broadcast bans and sponsor fallout
Chinese state broadcaster CMG has stopped airing La Liga matches in which Mbappé appears, and the streaming platform Migu removed Real Madrid's fixture against Racing Santander from its schedule for the 11th round, according to reports. That means hundreds of millions of viewers in China will not be able to watch the match live, while other fixtures in the same round remain available.
Beyond broadcast restrictions, several Chinese brands have already ended their partnerships with Mbappé. Media reports cite figures that the forward earns about $30 million per season from international sponsorship deals, with at least $10 million of that reportedly coming from Chinese brands. Those companies are now said to be considering legal action to recoup payments and seek damages.
Legal experts quoted in Chinese media say local civil law could allow brands to sue for breach of contract. "Contracts typically stipulate that the signatory must not offend national sentiments or cause significant negative public opinion that could affect the brand. If Mbappé breaches the contract, the brand has the legal right to terminate and claim compensation under the contract terms," one lawyer explained.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has met with the Chinese ambassador to Spain as the league seeks to limit the damage and preserve its growth plans in China. For Mbappé — who scored twice to settle El Clásico just days earlier — the incident threatens both his reputation and a sizable portion of his off-field earnings, and it has pulled Real Madrid and La Liga into a wider diplomatic and commercial dispute.
Photo: press material from the event
