By By Elizabeth Ugbo
China’s state broadcaster CCTV refused to air Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Racing Santander on Sunday, November 1, 2026, despite Kylian Mbappé’s apology over controversial remarks about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The decision followed public outrage in China after the French striker made the comments during a television appearance.
CCTV Maintains Suspension of La Liga Broadcasts
CCTV’s decision came as Real Madrid faced Racing Santander in a La Liga fixture on Sunday. Real Madrid won the match 3-0, with Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande scoring.
However, Chinese viewers could not watch the match through the state broadcaster.
China Media Group (CMG), CCTV’s parent organisation, had announced the suspension of Spanish La Liga broadcasts last Tuesday.
The decision followed widespread criticism of Mbappé’s remarks about Mao Zedong.
How Mbappé’s Comments Sparked Controversy
The controversy started during an appearance on the French television talk show The Bridge.
During the programme, Mbappé reportedly identified a meme about Mao as the funniest image he had seen.
The meme featured his face superimposed on the image of a Chinese dictator resembling Mao.
His remarks triggered anger across China, where Mao remains a sensitive historical and political figure.
Mao founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949 after leading the Communist Party to victory in the civil war.
He died in 1976 following decades of rule.
His leadership included the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution. Both periods involved mass famine, political persecution and widespread violence.
Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga Apologise
Following the backlash, Mbappé apologised for his comments.
He admitted that his remarks were ill-judged and acknowledged hurting many people in China.
He also recognised the concerns of Chinese communities worldwide.
China’s Foreign Ministry said it took his apology seriously.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid and La Liga also issued apologies over the controversy.
CMG had previously demanded apologies from Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga.
The broadcaster described the apologies as an absolute prerequisite for resolving the dispute.
Although CMG acknowledged the apologies, it has yet to announce a date for resuming La Liga broadcasts.
Chinese Brands Reportedly Drop Mbappé
The controversy has also affected Mbappé’s commercial relationships in China.
Several Chinese brands have reportedly dropped the French footballer from their promotional campaigns.
The development highlights the potential financial consequences of political controversies involving international sports figures.
Furthermore, global sports organisations face commercial challenges when public statements clash with the political sensitivities of major markets.
China’s Previous Dispute With the NBA
China has previously suspended international sports broadcasts over political controversies.
In October 2019, Chinese broadcasters stopped airing NBA games for approximately one year.
The decision followed comments by Daryl Morey, then general manager of the Houston Rockets.
Morey expressed support for Hong Kong protesters in a social media post.
He later sought to clarify his position.
He said he had listened to different perspectives and never intended to offend Chinese fans or sponsors.
The latest dispute involving Mbappé highlights the continuing relationship between sports, politics and international business.
