Kylian Mbappe shirt set alight in China as anger over Mao image intensifies

Kylian Mbappe’s dispute with the Chinese public has moved beyond suspended broadcasts and cancelled sponsorship agreements, with supporters taking to the streets to trample on his pictures and burn his shirts.

The scenes emerged as Beijing considered the Real Madrid forward’s apology, issued in three languages. For some Chinese fans, however, the apology has done little to ease their anger over an image linking Mbappe’s face with that of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

Videos showing the protests have spread widely on social media, reflecting how the row has developed from a diplomatic and commercial issue into a broader public backlash.

One supporter was filmed stamping on posters featuring Mbappe before addressing the camera in anger.

“I am extremely angry about what I heard from Mbappe regarding China,” he said. “I am imposing a severe boycott on him and I will never forgive him.”

The same fan then took out a lighter and set fire to a shirt bearing Mbappe’s name. The shirt was notably France’s national team jersey rather than a Real Madrid shirt, suggesting that the anger was aimed at the player himself and not solely at his club.

The public reaction follows comments by the Real Madrid player about a satirical image showing his face alongside Mao Zedong’s. Mbappe described it as one of his favourite pictures.

Chinese viewers had already reacted to the remarks after the government suspended the broadcast of Real Madrid matches on state broadcaster CCTV. The latest scenes indicate that the controversy has reached well beyond television coverage and football-related business ties.

Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China, remains a national symbol and a deeply sensitive figure in the country. Any perceived insult involving him can therefore provoke a particularly strong reaction.

The scale of the response has not been reduced by apologies from Mbappe, Real Madrid or La Liga. What began with a disputed image and the player’s comments has now become a source of widespread anger among sections of the Chinese public, with videos of the protests continuing to circulate online.