Chinese state TV pulls LaLiga coverage after Mbappé's Mao remark
China Media Group suspended LaLiga matches and Mbappé adverts. Mbappé and LaLiga have apologised, and Chinese brands have dropped the Real Madrid forward.
By TuSport Desk · 28 Oct 2026, 10:15 WAT
China's state broadcaster has suspended its coverage of LaLiga after Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé made a remark about Mao Zedong. China Media Group (CMG), which runs CCTV, said it took the decision on Monday 26 October. It covers LaLiga matches, all games featuring Mbappé and adverts in which he appears, the Global Times and AP report.
The row began with a clip from the French programme The Bridge. Asked about memes of himself, Mbappé said the one that made him laugh most showed "a guy, I think it's a Chinese dictator", the BBC reports. The clip then cut to a meme of his face placed on an image resembling Mao, the founding leader of the People's Republic of China. Reuters said it could not independently verify the video, CNBC notes.
Mbappé apologised on Tuesday 27 October in a statement posted in Chinese, French and English. "My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world," he said. "I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry."
LaLiga also said it "deeply regrets the offence" caused to Chinese fans. According to CMG, LaLiga president Javier Tebas wrote to the broadcaster condemning the comments and apologising. CMG replied that no talks could take place until LaLiga, Real Madrid and Mbappé himself had apologised publicly. A CMG representative later said it would "watch his actions even more closely" than his words, CNBC reports.
AP says Mbappé has lost deals with at least three Chinese companies, including drinks maker Dongpeng. His accounts on Weibo and Xiaohongshu were also muted, CNBC reports. As of Wednesday 28 October, there was no confirmation that the LaLiga broadcasts had resumed.
Sources: apnews.com · www.bbc.com · www.cnbc.com · www.globaltimes.cn
