Mbappe apologises for Mao comment after Chinese sponsors drop him

Kylian Mbappe apologised on Tuesday after a viral video showed him joking about a meme that superimposed his face on Mao Zedong. Chinese brands Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground said they were ending their partnerships with the Real Madrid forward, while state-run outlet The Paper reported that public television was suspending broadcasts of La Liga matches. The Spanish league also apologised to Chinese fans, saying Mbappe’s remarks were made in a personal capacity. AFP Fact Check could not immediately verify the video’s authenticity.