Chinese State TV Omits Real Madrid Match Amid Fallout Over Mbappé Comment

On Sunday, the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Racing Santander was not shown on either of CCTV’s two sports channels, according to AFP. The omission follows a controversy that began in April when French forward Kylian Mbappé posted a video referencing a meme that placed his face on an image of Mao Zedong, describing the former Chinese leader as a “dictator.”

The Chinese state broadcaster’s parent body, China Media Group (CMG), announced on October 26 that it would suspend La Liga broadcasts until the league, Real Madrid and Mbappé issued formal apologies. All three parties later apologized, and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it took the player’s apology “seriously.” Despite those statements, the Real Madrid‑Racing Santander game was still absent from CCTV’s schedule, while other match‑week 11 fixtures have also not been aired on public television.

La Liga matches continue to be available in China through Migu, a digital streaming platform owned by state‑run China Mobile. The service carried Barcelona’s 6‑1 victory over Alavés on Saturday, but the Real Madrid fixture did not appear on the platform either, according to reports cited by Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera has sought comment from La Liga but had not received a response at the time of publication.

The incident highlights the broader impact of political sensitivities on sports broadcasting in China. While the league and clubs have expressed regret over the remarks, the Chinese authorities have linked the resumption of live broadcasts to the completion of the apology process, leaving fans of the Spanish league in the country without access to one of its marquee matches.