Tebas seeks China talks after Mbappe row hits La Liga TV
La Liga president Javier Tebas is talking with Chinese authorities after Kylian Mbappe’s comments, as CCTV did not air any league matches this weekend.
AI-generated illustration · Not an actual photo of the events described
La Liga president Javier Tebas says he is in talks with Chinese authorities after comments by Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong prompted a backlash. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV did not air a La Liga match over the weekend, while Real Madrid’s win at Racing Santander on Sunday was not shown on pay television in China.
Speaking at the World in Progress forum in Barcelona on Monday, Tebas said the league would keep talking to officials in Madrid and Beijing while waiting for tensions to ease. Mbappe, Real Madrid and La Liga have apologised for the comment.
Comment sparks broadcasting dispute
In a clip from an interview with French show The Bridge that has since been taken down, Mbappe said he was amused by an internet meme showing his face photoshopped onto “some guy, think he’s a Chinese dictator”. The comment appeared to refer to Mao, whose mockery is taboo in China.
“For now, we wait and see how the situation develops… because given how events have unfolded, everything depends on things calming down a bit, on all the mess easing,” Tebas told reporters. He said he was speaking with Chinese authorities in both Madrid and Beijing.
The interruption to coverage came during a weekend in which Mbappe scored as Real Madrid beat Racing 3-0. The result moved Madrid within three points of La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Existing links form basis for talks
Tebas met Chinese ambassador to Spain Yao Jing last week and pointed to established ties between China and Spanish football. He said La Liga had worked on a strategy with Chinese political and sporting authorities for several years.
In February, Tebas met Chinese State Councillor Shen Yiqin and a high-ranking delegation at Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy facilities alongside Barcelona president Joan Laporta. Tebas also described a good agreement with the president of China Media Group, CCTV’s parent organisation, and said they had met previously.
La Liga waits for coverage to resume
Tebas said he was “hopeful” that the situation could be reversed. He plans to travel and continue speaking with Chinese authorities, saying: “We’ll try everything possible to normalise the situation as much as we can.”
Source: Malay Mail. This article was compiled by the iBET.news newsroom from the source report and other public information.
