Several days after an Instagram repost by Dean Huijsen triggered accusations of racism among Chinese users, Real Madrid has published an apology on China’s leading social media platform, Weibo. The message attributes the statement to the defender following criticism over content considered offensive toward Asian citizens.
“I sincerely apologize to my Chinese friends. I previously reshared content that included offensive messages without realizing it. It was completely unintentional, and I regret any discomfort caused,” reads the text, published in Chinese by the club in recent hours.
The controversy erupted over the weekend when Huijsen – the 20-year-old Dutch-Spanish player – reposted an image that Chinese users described as racist for referencing the shape of Asian people’s eyes. The screenshot, which has since been deleted from his account, showed a person of Asian origin alongside two comments from internet users that read: “Even Chinese people call him Chinese” and “You could blindfold him with dental floss.”
Statement posted on Weibo draws criticism
Real Madrid’s note appeared exclusively on its official Weibo account, a platform primarily used in China. That decision has itself prompted backlash from Chinese fans, some of whom questioned the reach of the apology and called for a public statement on international platforms – or a video message – rather than a written post limited to one network.
The episode echoes a previous controversy in 2024, when the club became embroiled in a dispute over a video showing a Real Madrid supporter singing a chant deemed vulgar ahead of the Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid. The Chinese Embassy in Spain described the song as “insulting toward China, vulgar and in poor taste.”
At the time, according to a statement from the diplomatic delegation, the club rejected the fan’s “inappropriate conduct,” condemned “any form of racism and xenophobia,” and characterized the matter as an “isolated incident by an individual supporter” that did not reflect the club’s values. It also reiterated its “appreciation and respect” for Chinese fans.
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