La Liga chief, Javier Tebas, mending fences with China after Kylian Mbappe row

File Photo: Javier Tebas working hard to bring back La Liga to China after Kylian Mbappe comments on Mao Zedong generates backlash | Photo Credit: Reuters

After Kylian Mbappe’s comments about Mao Zedong in October, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has not aired a single La Liga match. This weekend’s Real Madrid match was not shown on paid television in the country either.

La Liga president, Javier Tebas, has assured reporters at the World in Progress forum held in Barcelona that there is continuing dialogue between him and the Chinese authorities.

“For now, we wait and see how the situation develops... because given how events have unfolded, everything depends on things calming down a bit, on all the mess easing,” said Tebas.

“There will be ongoing dialogue -- I’m speaking with the Chinese authorities, both in Madrid and in Beijing, and we’re going to wait,” he added.

The La Liga chief had met with Chinese ambassador to Spain Yao Jing to amend ties between the league and China.

“We’ve had a strategy for several years now with the political and sporting authorities in China,” Tebas added.

“With the president of China Media Group (the parent organisation of CCTV) we have a good agreement. He’s been to La Liga, I’ve met with him (Shen Haixiong). Every time I travel to Beijing I have a meeting with him.” continued Tebas.

Mbappe, Real Madrid and La Liga had already apologised for the comment after a backlash in China.