China’s state broadcaster CCTV has refused to air a Real Madrid match despite an apology from French striker Kylian Mbappé over his controversial remarks about the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, according to the BBC on Monday.
The decision came on Sunday as Real Madrid faced Racing Santander in a La Liga fixture, which they won 3-0, with Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande finding the net.
China Media Group (CMG), CCTV’s parent organisation, had announced last Tuesday that it would suspend broadcasts of Spanish La Liga matches following widespread backlash over Mbappé’s comments.
The controversy erupted after the French forward reportedly said during an appearance on French talk show, The Bridge, that the meme that made him laugh the most was one showing his face superimposed on the image of a Chinese dictator resembling Mao.
His remarks sparked anger across China, where Mao remains a highly sensitive historical and political figure.
Mbappé later apologised, admitting that his comments were ill-judged and acknowledging that they had hurt many people in China and Chinese communities around the world.
China’s foreign ministry said it took the apology seriously, while Real Madrid and La Liga also issued apologies over the incident.
CMG had previously demanded apologies from Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga, describing them as an absolute prerequisite for resolving the controversy.
Although the broadcaster has acknowledged the apologies, it has yet to announce when La Liga coverage will resume.
The incident has also reportedly led to several Chinese brands dropping Mbappé from their promotional campaigns.
Mao, who founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949 after leading the Communist Party to victory in the civil war, died in 1976. His rule included the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, periods associated with mass famine, political persecution and widespread violence.
China has previously taken similar action against international sports organisations over political controversies.
In October 2019, Chinese broadcasters suspended NBA coverage for about a year after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey expressed support for Hong Kong protesters in a social media post.
Morey later sought to clarify his remarks, saying he had listened to other perspectives and had never intended to offend Chinese fans or sponsors.
The latest dispute highlights the potential commercial consequences international sports figures and organisations can face when their public comments clash with China’s political sensitivities.
