China Suspends LaLiga Broadcasts Over Kylian Mbappé’s Mao Zedong Remark

State Broadcaster Pulls LaLiga Matches Following Comments on Mao Zedong

Chinese state television broadcaster CCTV pulled all LaLiga matches from its schedule on Saturday following an online controversy involving Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé and a meme associated with Mao Zedong, Marca reported. The blackout stems from an interview where the French international identified a digital image placing his face on the body of a “Chinese dictator” as one of his favorite memes.

Commercial Fallout and Digital Erasure Across Chinese Platforms

The remarks triggered immediate commercial repercussions across China. Mbappé’s account on the Xiaohongshu platform, which had approximately 1.1 million followers, was banned for violating community guidelines. Several Chinese enterprises rescinded commercial contracts and suspended advertising campaigns featuring the forward. Online searches for the player yielded no results on local networks, and video clips of his goals in the recent Classic against Barcelona were removed.

Migu Streaming Response and Real Madrid Match Restrictions

While state television halted its broadcasts entirely, digital streaming platform Migu maintained nearly its entire weekend football schedule, according to Marca. However, the platform excluded the fixture between Racing Santander and Real Madrid scheduled for Sunday afternoon. EFE reported that Migu also removed previous matches of the Madrid club, and the team does not appear in the records for August and September.

Diplomatic Apologies and Official Reactions

Mbappé issued formal apologies in French, Chinese, and English, acknowledging that his remarks hurt many people in China and global Chinese communities. Real Madrid and LaLiga joined the apologies, with league president Javier Tebas sending a letter to the China Media Group. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that actions wounding the feelings of the Chinese people are rejected by society. Real Madrid coach José Mourinho addressed the controversy, describing the club and player reactions as mature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What specific contract connects LaLiga to Chinese digital broadcasting?

LaLiga maintains a digital partnership with Migu, a subsidiary of China Mobile, under an agreement running through the 2029/30 season to broadcast 380 matches per year.

How much revenue does Real Madrid draw from the Chinese market?

Estimates indicate that approximately 10 per cent of Real Madrid’s marketing revenue originates from China, with substantial broadcasting and merchandising stakes at risk.

What communication did Real Madrid and LaLiga send to Chinese authorities?

LaLiga president Javier Tebas sent a letter to the China Media Group confirming that Real Madrid joined the formal apologies and expressed its respect for China.

Which matches were specifically removed from the Migu streaming schedule?

Migu removed the fixture between Racing Santander and Real Madrid alongside previous matches of the Madrid club from August and September.

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