Paris:The head of the French Football Federation (FFF) has come to the defense of Kylian Mbappe, following a controversy sparked by the footballer's comments about the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Mbappe, who plays for Real Madrid, faced backlash in China after referring to Mao as a dictator during a discussion on a French podcast.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the FFF's president Philippe Diallo stated that Mbappe should be allowed to move on after he apologized for his remarks. Diallo emphasized that the context in which Mbappe made the comments was explained, and the footballer has since apologized. Diallo expressed hope that the controversy would not persist, allowing Mbappe to continue his season without further distractions.

The backlash in China has led to significant repercussions for Mbappe. Chinese state-owned broadcaster Migu has decided not to air Real Madrid's upcoming match against Racing Santander. Additionally, Chinese companies Mengniu, Shanghai Milkground Food Tech, and Eastroc Beverage have terminated their partnerships with the football star.

In response to the situation, Real Madrid and LaLiga issued formal apologies. LaLiga President Javier Tebas has established a crisis unit and met with Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing to address the issue. The controversy originated from an online meme portraying Mbappe as a political leader, with the podcast video, now deleted, describing the figure as "some guy - I think he's a Chinese dictator."

China Daily reported that Mbappe's comments have not only led to a backlash among his Chinese fans but have also threatened his lucrative commercial relationships, highlighting the limits of celebrity influence.