Chinese broadcasters continue to withhold Real Madrid coverage despite apologies from the club and Kylian Mbappe. The controversy began after Mbappe was seen laughing at a meme superimposing his face onto former Chinese leader Mao Zedong during an appearance on the online show The Bridge.
Coverage suspension and removed content
State broadcaster CCTV suspended La Liga coverage, while digital platforms such as Migu removed Mbappe’s goals from their archives.
Real Madrid’s recent one-nil victory against Racing Santander was also absent from major streaming services in China.
Communication over a return
China’s ambassador to Spain, Yao Jing, said communication channels are open between the government, La Liga and Real Madrid, but that no formal negotiations are currently taking place to resume broadcasts.
Yao Jing said: “This unfortunate incident has hurt the feelings of many people in China, who need time to process the current situation. The Chinese people need time. This is not an easy issue for them, especially because Real Madrid has received so much love and support in China.”
Dailysports reported that China Media Group remains non-committal about a return date for live games.
Commercial partnerships ended
Dongpeng and Mengniu officially terminated their commercial collaborations with Mbappe.
Broadcast agreements and official response
La Liga’s broadcasting agreements with CCTV and Migu reportedly run until the 2029/30 season and are worth approximately €10m annually.
Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said during a press briefing: “any act that hurts the feelings of the people will naturally meet with common rejection from society.”
