Real Madrid has publicly apologised to its Chinese supporters following a social media backlash sparked by defender Dean Huijsen’s resharing of content widely regarded as offensive in China. The club’s statement, published on the official Weibo account in Chinese, sought to acknowledge the hurt caused when an image featuring derogatory remarks about Asian physical features was reposted from Huijsen’s Instagram and later deleted amid the uproar.
In the apology issued on behalf of the 20‑year‑old centre‑back, he expressed regret for unintentionally forwarding the offending material and conveyed his sincere apologies to his “Chinese friends,” underscoring that the act was not deliberate. However, the message’s exclusive release on China’s dominant social network — without parallel posts on Real Madrid’s global channels or on Huijsen’s own international accounts — has led many fans on Weibo to criticise the gesture as insufficient or overly narrow in scope.
The episode has reignited discussions about cultural sensitivity in international sport and the responsibilities of elite clubs and their players when navigating diverse global audiences. It also comes at a delicate moment for Real Madrid, as the club simultaneously deals with other high‑profile matters relating to discrimination in football.
