China’s state broadcaster CCTV decided not to air the Real Madrid vs. Racing Santander match on Sunday, following the apology issued by star striker Kylian Mbappé for remarks about a meme that compared his face to a likeness of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
Mbappé’s comment, made on the French talk show The Bridge, drew sharp backlash in China where Mao remains a revered figure of the Communist Party. The meme, which many found offensive, was described by Mbappé as the one that made him laugh the most.
China Media Group, the parent of CCTV, had already announced on Tuesday that it would suspend broadcasts of Spanish La Liga matches in response to the incident. Several Chinese brands also dropped the player following the controversy.
Both Real Madrid and La Liga have issued apologies, and China’s foreign ministry said it took Mbappé’s apology “seriously.” China Media Group has acknowledged the apologies but has not specified how long the broadcast blackout will last.
The decision follows a history of Beijing suspending sports broadcasts over political sensitivities, most notably the NBA’s temporary withdrawal of games in 2019 after Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey’s tweet supporting Hong Kong protesters.
Real Madrid won 3-0 against Racing Santander, with goals from Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande. The match will not be televised in China, leaving fans without live coverage of the club’s victory.
Watch for further updates from CCTV and China Media Group as they determine the duration of the broadcast halt and any potential reinstatement of La Liga matches.
