Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen has issued an apology to Chinese supporters after sharing social media content widely condemned as offensive to Asians, prompting a backlash on Chinese platforms and renewed scrutiny of the club’s global image.

The Spain international used Real Madrid’s official account on Weibo, China’s largest microblogging site, to address the controversy. Huijsen had reposted an image of an Asian person accompanied by comments that many Chinese users denounced as racist, saying the post mocked the shape of the person’s eyes. The screenshot of the repost was quickly deleted from his personal account, but not before it circulated online and drew heavy criticism.

In a written statement published in Chinese on Weibo, Huijsen said he was sorry for the offence caused. “I sincerely apologize to my Chinese friends,” the message read. “I previously forwarded content that included offensive messages unintentionally. It was completely unintentional, and I regret the distress caused.”

Weibo, which has hundreds of millions of monthly active users, has become a crucial channel for European clubs seeking to build and protect their brands in China. The decision to apologise only on that platform, however, has itself become a point of contention. Neither Real Madrid nor Huijsen have shared the statement on their other social media accounts, leading some Chinese fans to question the sincerity and reach of the apology.

Many users on Weibo have called for a broader response, demanding that Huijsen issue a global apology or appear in a video rather than relying solely on a written message. Critics argue that limiting the statement to one market suggests the club is treating the incident as a local public-relations issue rather than confronting a wider problem of racism and cultural insensitivity.

The episode comes against a sensitive backdrop for Real Madrid in China. In a previous incident, a song posted online by a supporter was condemned by the Chinese Embassy in Spain as insulting, vulgar and of bad character. The club responded through diplomatic channels, distancing itself from the video and stressing that it did not reflect Real Madrid’s values.

Huijsen’s apology also coincides with another racism-related case involving the club. Real Madrid are awaiting the outcome of a UEFA investigation into allegations that Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni directed racist abuse at Vinícius Júnior, underlining how issues of discrimination continue to shadow European football’s elite institutions.