Dubai: Kylian Mbappe has lost commercial partnerships with two major Chinese brands after a video circulated online in which the France captain appeared to joke about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

Sports drinks maker Dongpeng and dairy giant Mengniu announced on October 27 that they were ending their collaborations with the Real Madrid forward, citing remarks they said offended Chinese people.

“Our company firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any behaviour that offends national sentiments,” Dongpeng said in a statement, confirming the immediate termination of its partnership with the 27-year-old.

Mengniu issued a similar statement, saying it would also end its cooperation with Mbappe and would not tolerate words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.

The controversy followed the circulation of a video in which Mbappe reportedly described an internet meme featuring his face superimposed on that of “some guy – I think he’s a Chinese dictator”.…