Chinese state television did not broadcast the latest round of
It remains unclear whether the broadcaster had originally scheduled the matches before opting to pull them from the lineup or if they were never slated for air. While CCTV’s sports channels bypassed the fixtures—including Villarreal’s 1-0 loss to Espanyol and Atletico Madrid’s victory over Levante—the games were still accessible via Migu, a digital streaming service operated by the state-owned China Mobile.
Apologies and Ongoing Tensions
The controversy stems from a video in which Mbappe discussed a meme that superimposed his face onto an image of Mao. Following the backlash, Mbappe issued an apology for his remarks, which he described as ill-judged. Both Real Madrid and La Liga also expressed deep regret over the incident. China’s foreign ministry stated that it took the player’s apology seriously, and the China Media Group (CMG), which oversees CCTV, acknowledged the statements from the parties involved.
Despite these apologies, the situation remains fluid. CMG had previously indicated that expressions of regret from the player, the club, and the league were a prerequisite for moving past the dispute. Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho addressed the matter on Saturday, asserting that the club had fulfilled its responsibility to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, the fallout has extended beyond television broadcasts, with several major Chinese brands opting to terminate sponsorship agreements with the player.
Market Impact and Future Broadcasts
China represents a significant market for European football, with CCTV traditionally providing coverage for the Premier League, as well as the top divisions in Germany, France, and Italy. The exclusion of La Liga matches highlights the sensitivity of political topics in the country, where jokes regarding Mao Zedong are considered taboo. Historically, other international sports entities have faced similar challenges; the NBA, for instance, saw its ties with China effectively severed for several years following a 2019 tweet by then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey regarding Hong Kong protesters.
As the weekend progressed, three additional matches were scheduled to take place, including a fixture involving Barcelona, which maintains a substantial following in the region. Real Madrid is also set to face Racing Santander on Sunday. While the league has noted that Chinese television had previously broadcast all matches live, the current status of negotiations between the league and state media remains uncertain.
