India, Oct. 28 -- Real Madrid have issued a formal apology to China after the country's state broadcaster rejected the Spanish club's initial defence of Kylian Mbappe over his controversial remarks about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The dispute has already resulted in the suspension of La Liga broadcast in China. It has also cost Real Madrid's French forward several lucrative sponsorship deals.

China Media Group (CMG), which oversees state broadcaster CCTV, accused Mbappe of crossing the limits of free speech. They insisted that Real Madrid must take responsibility for their player's conduct. The broadcaster also rejected Real's initial explanation that the remarks were unintentional and reflected Mbappe's right to express personal ...