Real Madrid's television channel sparked controversy after the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony at the London Palladium theatre on Monday evening. Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or instead of Kylian Mbappe, and according to Spanish newspaper Sport, the channel stopped broadcasting the gala after his victory was announced.
The award results
Kane won the Ballon d'Or, with Mbappe finishing second. Spain's Lamine Yamal was crowned best young player for the third time in a row.
How the broadcast ended
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Real Madrid's television channel cut the broadcast quickly after Kane's victory was announced. A message appeared on screen stating that the content was unavailable for reasons related to audiovisual broadcasting rights.
Kane's season numbers
In the season cited by the report, Kane scored 73 goals in 65 matches, including 61 for Bayern Munich.
Recent scrutiny of the channel
Real Madrid's television channel has recently been linked to video clips criticising the performance of referees. Other clubs objected to those clips as a means of pressuring officials before matches. The club faced no sanctions as a result.