Real Madrid have come under criticism in China over a social media post dedicated to the victims of the devastating natural disaster affecting Nepal and China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
As reported by İdman.Biz, the Madrid club shared a photo of a minute's silence held at the Santiago Bernabeu before their La Liga match against Malaga.
The post stated that the ceremony was held in memory of the victims of the floods in "Nepal and Tibet." The wording prompted criticism from Chinese fans and media, who interpreted it as presenting Tibet alongside Nepal as a separate geographical and political entity.
China considers the Tibet Autonomous Region, which it officially refers to in English as Xizang, an integral part of the country. Chinese media argued that Real Madrid should have referred to "Nepal and China" or "China's Xizang" instead.
It was also noted that other La Liga clubs used wording referring to Nepal and China in similar messages of condolence.
Despite the criticism, Real Madrid had not removed or corrected the disputed posts and had not issued a separate public statement on the controversy as of September 2.
The disaster struck the Himalayan region on August 26, causing widespread destruction on both sides of the Nepal-China border. According to the latest reports, the death toll has exceeded 1,000, with thousands of people still missing.
