Real Madrid published a statement on Weibo addressing controversy surrounding Dean Huijsen after the defender reshared content on Instagram that Chinese users deemed offensive.
The club released a message in Chinese attributed to the player:
“I sincerely apologize to my Chinese friends. I previously reposted content that included offensive messages unintentionally. It was completely unintentional and I regret the discomfort caused.”
The controversy erupted after Huijsen reshared an image that referenced
Asian physical features in comments that users described as racist. The post has since been deleted.
The statement, posted on Real Madrid’s official Weibo account, drew criticism from Chinese fans who questioned the scope of the apology and called for a broader public response on international platforms or via video.
This is not the first time the club has faced backlash in China. In 2024, a video involving a Madrid supporter before the Champions League final prompted the Chinese Embassy in Spain to describe it as “insulting toward China, vulgar and of bad nature.” At the time, Madrid condemned “any form of racism and xenophobia,” labeling the incident an isolated act that did not represent club values.
