Mbappé embroiled in China controversy over Mao joke; FFF president backs captain

FFF president Diallo defends Mbappé after backlash in China over a joke about Mao Zedong; three major sponsors have ended deals and state media suspended Real Madrid broadcast.

Kylian Mbappé has sparked a major controversy in China after joking about former leader Mao Zedong on the podcast The Bridge. In the clip, the Real Madrid forward reacted to memes depicting him as a dictator, saying the funniest one showed his face superimposed on what he believed was a Chinese dictator's.

The joke has triggered enormous backlash in China, where criticism of Mao and the Communist Party leadership is considered taboo. Three major Chinese companies immediately terminated sponsorship deals with Mbappé, and state broadcaster China Media Group suspended coverage of La Liga matches involving the French captain. The broadcaster has already pulled Real Madrid's upcoming match against Santander from its schedule.

FFF president Philippe Diallo has publicly defended Mbappé, saying he does not believe the player intended to insult China or its people and hopes the controversy will not last long. Mbappé has apologized, but the Chinese government said it is taking the matter seriously. The 27-year-old now faces the prospect of a broader boycott affecting France's upcoming matches, with his next international game scheduled for November 12.