China Media Group (CMG), the parent organisation of state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), has maintained its suspension of Spanish La Liga broadcasts despite apologies from French footballer Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid and the league, leaving Chinese state television viewers unable to watch Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Racing Santander on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
The decision represents a continuation of the diplomatic and commercial fallout triggered by Mbappé’s controversial remarks about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, which sparked widespread criticism across China and prompted the broadcaster to suspend coverage of the Spanish football competition.
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The latest development came as Real Madrid secured a comfortable victory at the El Sardinero Stadium in Santander, with Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande scoring in the first half.
However, neither of CCTV’s two sports channels broadcast the encounter, according to the Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The broadcaster had also excluded other matches from the 11th round of La Liga from its public television schedule.
The controversy began after a video from an appearance by Mbappé on the French programme, The Bridge, circulated online.
During the interview, the 27-year-old French forward reportedly described an internet meme depicting his face superimposed on the image of a Chinese dictator as one of the funniest he had seen.
Although Mbappé did not mention Mao by name, his description was widely interpreted as a reference to the former Chinese leader, whose image and historical legacy remain highly sensitive subjects in the country.
The remarks generated considerable backlash among Chinese social media users, with criticism extending beyond the footballer to Real Madrid and La Liga.
Recognising the extent of the reaction, Mbappé subsequently issued an apology in French, Chinese and English, acknowledging the impact of his comments on Chinese people and communities around the world.
“My comment was ill-judged and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world. I apologise to everyone my words have upset,” the France captain said.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, acknowledged the apology during a regular briefing, saying: “We take seriously the apology the individual concerned has made.”
Real Madrid also issued an apology, expressing regret to the Chinese people for any offence caused by the player’s remarks. La Liga similarly acknowledged the reaction, saying it deeply regretted the offence caused among Chinese supporters.
However, the apologies have not yet resulted in the restoration of CCTV’s Spanish football coverage.
CMG had previously described apologies from Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga as an “absolute prerequisite” for resolving the controversy and moving beyond the dispute.
Although CCTV’s sports website subsequently acknowledged the apologies, the broadcaster has yet to announce when regular La Liga coverage will resume.
The impact has also extended beyond television broadcasting.
Several Chinese companies, including beverage manufacturer Dongpeng and dairy businesses Mengniu and Milkground, reportedly ended their commercial partnerships with Mbappé following the controversy.
His presence on Chinese social media platforms was also affected, with his accounts on Weibo and Xiaohongshu facing restrictions.
Despite the state television suspension, La Liga coverage has not completely disappeared from China’s digital broadcasting environment.
Migu, a streaming platform owned by China Mobile and La Liga’s exclusive digital partner in the country, continued showing several matches during the weekend.
However, the Racing Santander versus Real Madrid fixture was notably absent from Migu’s published schedule, according to Spain’s EFE news agency.
The distinction highlights the extent of the restrictions, with CCTV maintaining its wider suspension of public television coverage while digital access to other La Liga fixtures continued through the streaming platform.
On the pitch, Real Madrid enjoyed an impressive afternoon, extending their winning run with a dominant first-half performance.
Mbappé opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 11th minute before Bellingham doubled the advantage in the 21st minute. Diomande completed the 3-0 victory with a spectacular strike in the 36th minute.
The result secured Real Madrid’s sixth consecutive victory across all competitions, while further underlining the sporting contrast surrounding the club as its television exposure in one of the world’s largest football markets remained restricted.
Real Madrid manager José Mourinho had earlier indicated that the club had taken steps to address the controversy, saying the club had “done our part” to move past the situation.
The latest development has also revived memories of China’s previous confrontation with international sports organisations over politically sensitive comments.
In October 2019, CCTV suspended its broadcasts of the National Basketball Association (NBA) after Daryl Morey, then general manager of the Houston Rockets, expressed support for Hong Kong protesters in a social media post.
The controversy triggered a major dispute between the NBA and Chinese authorities, affecting broadcasting arrangements and commercial relationships.
Morey subsequently sought to clarify his position, while the NBA faced pressure from different sides over its response.
CCTV eventually resumed NBA coverage in October 2020, approximately one year after the suspension began, when it announced plans to broadcast the fifth game of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat.
The precedent illustrates how disputes involving political sensitivities can have consequences extending well beyond the individuals whose comments trigger them.
For La Liga, the continued suspension presents a commercial and reputational challenge in a country with a substantial audience for European football.
For Real Madrid, the situation also raises questions about the potential impact of individual controversies on the club’s international relationships and commercial reach.
While Mbappé’s apology has been acknowledged by Chinese authorities, the absence of an announced date for the resumption of broadcasts suggests that the dispute remains unresolved.
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The episode serves as a reminder of the increasingly complex relationship between global sport, political sensitivities and commercial interests, where public comments by high-profile athletes can produce consequences far beyond the football pitch.
