China said it has taken an apology from Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe seriously after comments he made poking fun at Mao Zedong caused a social media storm and saw Spanish football yanked off state TV.

Mocking former leader Mao — blamed by historians for millions of deaths — is taboo in China and the French player’s remarks saw him become the latest foreign sports figure to anger Beijing.

Recommended Stories

list of 4 items list 1 of 4 Saudi Arabia confirms January start for Asian Cup 2027 despite attacks

list 2 of 4 CAS clears Japan’s Olympic silver medallist Ikeda of doping, overturns ban

list 3 of 4 Wrong national anthems played three times at Asian Para Games in Japan

list 4 of 4 China edge USA to women’s team gold at Gymnastics World Championships

end of list

The clip of the video interview with French show The Bridge — since taken down — saw Mbappe talk about being amused by an internet meme of his face digitally altered onto “some guy, think he’s a Chinese dictator”, an apparent…