Broadcast Blackout Enforced on State Television
BEIJING – China Central Television (CCTV) omitted a Real Madrid La Liga match from its broadcast schedule on Sunday, following a diplomatic and commercial furore sparked by star forward Kylian Mbappé, according to reporting by Bangkok Post. The fixture between Real Madrid and Racing Santander, which kicked off at 1515 GMT on Sunday, November 2, 2026, was absent from both of CCTV’s dedicated sports channels, as observed by Agence France-Presse reporters. The blackout forms part of a broader suspension initiated by China Media Group (CMG), the parent organisation overseeing CCTV, which announced on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, that it was halting broadcasts of Spanish top-flight football matches in response to viral comments made by the French international.
The controversy erupted after a video surfaced showing Mbappé discussing internet memes on the French talk show The Bridge. In the clip, the player referred to an image where his face was superimposed onto that of a “Chinese dictator,” an apparent reference to the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The remark drew intense backlash within China, where public mockery of Mao remains a severe political taboo. Although Mao directed the Chinese Communist Party to victory in 1976 and founded the People’s Republic, his historical legacy includes devastating policies such as the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, which triggered widespread famines and millions of deaths.
Apologies Issued and Commercial Backlash
In the wake of the public outcry, BBC reported that formal apologies were issued by Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid, and La Liga. Mbappé expressed regret for his statements, stating that his comments were ill-judged and acknowledging that they caused hurt in China and across Chinese communities worldwide. China’s foreign ministry confirmed that it took the player’s apology “seriously.” CMG previously stated that apologies from all three parties constituted “an absolute prerequisite” for moving past the incident, and CCTV’s sports platform later acknowledged that the apologies had been received. Despite this acknowledgment, the broadcaster has not clarified how long the La Liga broadcast suspension will remain in effect. Beyond state television, the fallout has carried heavy commercial consequences, with several major Chinese brands cancelling their sponsorship agreements with Mbappé.
Streaming Platforms and Historical Precedents
While public television channels maintained the blackout, live coverage of other fixtures remained partially accessible through alternative digital routes. AFP journalists noted that Migu, a streaming service operated by state-owned China Mobile, had previously carried matches such as Barcelona’s 6-1 victory over Alavés on Saturday, November 1, 2026. However, Sunday’s fixture involving Real Madrid did not appear on the streaming platform either. Real Madrid manager José Mourinho remarked on Saturday that the club had “done our part” to resolve the controversy, but uncertainty persists regarding the resumption of full broadcast rights.
This incident echoes previous geopolitical clashes involving international sports leagues and Chinese state platforms. Most notably, Beijing severed broadcasting ties with the National Basketball Association (NBA) for a year starting in October 2019, following a tweet by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey expressing support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. That dispute eventually saw Morey issue a statement addressing his Chinese fan base and sponsors, illustrating the high financial and diplomatic stakes foreign sports entities face when navigating political sensitivities in the Chinese market.