Kylian Mbappé, the French star of Real Madrid, sparked a backlash in China after making inappropriate remarks, leading several Chinese brands to sever ties with him and China Central Television (CCTV) to withhold broadcasts of his matches. The Spanish Liga (La Liga) and its president, Javier Tebas, issued a rapid apology statement to Chinese fans, emphasizing that such statements are solely the personal views of the player and do not reflect the stance of the league or its 20 clubs.
La Liga and its president are actively working to address the situation, aiming to resolve the growing commercial and broadcasting crisis by bridging the gap with Chinese partners and institutions. The league pledged to establish and promote cultural awareness and communication guidelines to enhance cultural understanding and respect among players and clubs, ensuring such incidents do not recur.
Teras expressed on his official Twitter account that he understood the dissatisfaction caused by Mbappé's remarks and apologized to the Chinese people. He stated that Spanish football has maintained a culture of respect and harmony, and its strong commitment to China remains unshaken, with measures being taken to directly engage with Chinese partners to mitigate the current situation.