China’s primary state broadcaster, CCTV, opted not to air Real Madrid’s recent La Liga fixture on Sunday despite receiving a formal apology from French star Kylian Mbappé over controversial comments regarding former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
The broadcast decision affected Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory against Racing Santander, in which Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Yan Diomande scored. Parent organization China Media Group (CMG) previously announced a total suspension of Spanish league broadcasts following an uproar over Mbappé’s public remarks.
Origins of the Controversy
The diplomatic and commercial fallout began after Mbappé appeared on the French talk show The Bridge. During the interview, the forward noted that a viral meme featuring his face superimposed onto an image resembling Mao Zedong was the meme that made him laugh the most.
Because Mao remains an intensely sensitive political figure in modern China, the comment triggered widespread outrage among Chinese sports fans and public officials. In response, Mbappé issued a public apology, admitting his remarks were ill-judged and expressing regret for causing offense to Chinese communities globally.
Commercial Consequences and Precedents
In addition to Mbappé’s personal statement, both Real Madrid and La Liga leadership released official apologies. China’s foreign ministry acknowledged the responses, stating it took the apologies seriously. However, CMG has not specified when Spanish football broadcasts will resume on Chinese television networks.
The controversy has already spilled over into Mbappé’s commercial partnerships, with several prominent Chinese brands reportedly dropping the French international from their marketing campaigns.
This incident reflects a broader pattern of Chinese state media penalizing international sports organizations over sensitive political statements. In October 2019, Chinese networks suspended National Basketball Association (NBA) broadcasts for roughly a year after Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey published a social media post supporting pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.