Kylian Mbappe has been dropped by Chinese brands while state TV stations have suspended all LaLiga broadcasts following a joke about Mao Zedong.
A video circulated online in which the French Real Madrid superstar apparently mocked the former Chinese Communist Party leader.
In the footage, he said the funniest internet meme he had seen was of his face photo-shopped onto that of ‘some guy – I think he’s a Chinese dictator’.
Mbappe has apologised for the ‘ill-judged’ joke, saying he has ‘deep respect’ for China and its history.
Meanwhile LaLiga president Javier Medrano has also been forced to weigh in and apologise to China,
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