Chinese state television did not air Real Madrid’s Spanish league fixture against Racing Santander on Sunday as the controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s remarks about Mao Zedong continues to disrupt coverage. Neither of CCTV’s two sports networks carried the game, extending a programming blackout across the country where millions of fans follow La Liga.
Broadcast Suspensions and Streaming Exceptions
The fixture began at 15:15 GMT but was excluded from both public sports channels, according to reporting by news agency AFP. In addition, no other fixtures from the 11th round of the Spanish championship have been aired live on state-run television networks.
The blackout stems from a video recorded in April that circulated widely on social media, in which Mbappe labeled the former Chinese leader a “dictator.” Describing the funniest internet meme about himself, the forward mentioned seeing his face edited onto that of “some guy. I think he’s a Chinese dictator,” referencing an image superimposed on Mao.
Following the clip’s spread, the China Media Group (CMG), which manages CCTV, announced on October 26 that it had suspended La Liga programming. The supervisory body stated that formal apologies from the competition, Real Madrid, and the player were “an absolute prerequisite” before coverage could be restored.
While state television withheld coverage, Spanish league action remained accessible on Migu, a streaming platform operated by state-owned telecommunications firm China Mobile. That platform broadcast Barcelona’s 6-1 victory over Alaves on Saturday, although the subsequent Real Madrid game was notably absent from the schedule.
Fallout and Stalled Resolutions
Mbappe issued an apology for what he termed “ill-judged” statements, while both Real Madrid and La Liga expressed deep regret over the incident. A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that authorities treated the French international’s apology “seriously.”
La Liga did not provide an immediate response when Al Jazeera contacted the organization for comment. CCTV’s sports portal subsequently indicated that CMG had recognized the apologies, but there was no confirmation that formal discussions to resolve the dispute had commenced.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho stated on Saturday that the club had “done our part” to address the matter. Speaking critically or humorously about Mao, who died in 1976, remains strictly taboo in China, where historical evaluations link his governance to widespread starvation and millions of fatalities.
The controversy has already prompted major Chinese corporations to terminate endorsement contracts with Mbappe. The situation mirrors past political disputes involving foreign sports organizations in China, including the multi-year broadcast freeze imposed on the National Basketball Association after former Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey tweeted in support of Hong Kong demonstrators in 2019.
