Mbappe, Real Madrid and La Liga Face Long Road to Redemption in China

Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid and La Liga have apologised after a video showed the player appearing to mock Mao Zedong, but experts say the damage to their reputations in China will take time to repair. Chinese brands have cut ties with Mbappe, and La Liga matches are set to disappear from state broadcaster CCTV as state media and social media users criticize him. Veteran commentator Yan Qiang called the incident seriously damaging and warned that an apology does not necessarily end the story. The fallout recalls the NBA’s 2019 split with China after a tweet supporting Hong Kong protesters, a dispute the league said cost it hundreds of millions of dollars.