Real Madrid · Full chronicle and history

On October 28, CCTV's Youth Sports Center stated that Mbappé's out-of-line remarks hurt the Chinese people, crossed the bottom line, and exceeded the bounds of freedom of speech, saying Real Madrid cannot shirk responsibility, that it does not accept his explanation, and that nothing will be discussed until a proper apology is made.

On October 27, the Chinese Football Association demanded a formal public apology from the player involved and Real Madrid; elDiario reported that the CFA had contacted Real Madrid, asking the club to issue a formal public apology. As of the writing of multiple reports, Real Madrid had made no public statement.

On October 26, while China Media Group of China Central Television halted broadcasts of La Liga and matches involving Mbappé, the head of China Media Group sent a letter to La Liga president Tebas, demanding that Real Madrid and Mbappé himself immediately make a public and sincere apology, eliminate the adverse impact, and submit a written apology letter to China Media Group.

The Global Times named Real Madrid, demanding that it delete the relevant post, apologize to the Chinese public, and change the wording to "China's Tibet".

On September 1, 2026, the Global Times published an article naming Spain's Real Madrid football club, accusing it of writing the disaster-affected areas as "Nepal and Tibet" to cater to a separatist narrative, and demanding that it delete the post and apologize.

Real Madrid held a minute of silence on the pitch to mourn the victims of the flood on the "Nepal and Tibet border," a phrasing that subsequently sparked controversy on the Chinese internet.

On August 30, 2026, Spain's Real Madrid football club observed a moment of silence for flood victims at its home stadium and posted a tribute on social media, sparking a sovereignty controversy on the Chinese internet because it described the disaster area as Nepal and Tibet rather than China's Tibet.

On August 30, 2026, Real Madrid observed a moment of silence at the stadium and on social media for the floods in Tibet and Nepal, sparking a sovereignty controversy in China because the English used "Tibet" rather than "China's Xizang".