Mbappe, Real Madrid and La Liga face long redemption road in China

Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid and La Liga have apologised after comments by the France captain about Mao Zedong surfaced in a video circulated online this week. Mbappe had said he was amused by an internet meme that digitally placed his face on a “Chinese dictator”. Mao remains officially revered in China, where publicly mocking him is taboo; Chinese brands have cut ties with Mbappe and La Liga matches have been removed from state broadcaster CCTV’s schedule. Experts say the apologies will not quickly repair the damage to their reputations.