In a move that has ignited further controversy rather than quelling it, Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen issued an apology on Chinese social media platform Weibo late Saturday after sharing an Instagram post containing racially offensive tropes directed at Asian people.
The apology, however, has been met with widespread skepticism from Chinese fans who criticize it as a “China-only” response lacking genuine remorse.
The incident began when Huijsen, a 20-year-old Dutch-Spanish centre-back with over 5.2 million Instagram followers, reposted content that included malicious screenshots from a comment section.
The images featured derogatory phrases, including “Even Chinese call him Chinese” and “You could blindfold him with dental floss,” the latter widely recognized in Western contexts as a racist slur mocking the eye shape of East Asians.
The post was quickly screenshotted and circulated among Chinese netizens, who demanded accountability. Huijsen deleted the repost shortly after the backlash began but remained silent on his personal channels.
The formal response came late Saturday via Real Madrid’s official account on Weibo, a platform primarily serving users in mainland China. The club characterized the incident as an “unintentional mistake” and published a statement attributed to Huijsen.
“I sincerely apologize to my Chinese friends,” the statement read, according to translations from multiple outlets. “Previously, I inadvertently reposted a post containing offensive content, which was purely unintentional, and I apologize for the distress caused”.
Rather than extinguishing the uproar, the apology has fueled accusations of insincerity and double standards. Critics were quick to note that the statement appeared exclusively on the club’s China-focused Weibo account, with no parallel message published on Huijsen’s Instagram, his X account, or Real Madrid’s international platforms.
This has led to sharp rebukes from fans who view the response as performative and calculated to protect the club’s commercial interests in the region rather than a genuine expression of regret.
“This is an example of double standards,” one Weibo user commented, as reported by the Global Times. “Vinicius gets full club backing, but Chinese fans get a quick Weibo note?”.
The comment refers to Real Madrid’s history of vocally supporting forward Vinicius Junior, who has frequently been the target of racist abuse in Spain, highlighting what many perceive as inconsistent application of the club’s zero-tolerance policy on discrimination.
Others have challenged Huijsen’s claim that the repost was unintentional, noting that Instagram’s sharing mechanism requires multiple steps to confirm a repost, undermining the “inadvertent” defense. Prominent Chinese Real Madrid fan groups have publicly stated they have emailed the club demanding further action and are urging supporters to await a more substantive official response.
The controversy is particularly awkward for the Real Madrid hierarchy given the timing. The club is currently awaiting the results of a UEFA investigation into alleged racist abuse directed at Vinicius Junior by a Benfica player during a recent Champions League clash.
The organization’s vocal advocacy for its Brazilian star in Europe now stands in stark contrast to what Chinese fans perceive as a dismissive and localized response to discrimination targeting Asians.
This is not the first time Real Madrid has faced diplomatic tension regarding China. In 2024, the club was forced to distance itself from a fan filmed singing a song containing anti-Chinese slurs prior to the Champions League final, a incident that prompted a formal protest from the Chinese Embassy in Spain.