China’s state broadcaster, CCTV, has suspended broadcasts of Spanish LaLiga football following a controversy over Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe’s comments about an internet meme comparing his face to former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
The decision, which reportedly took effect on Monday night, also covers matches involving Mbappe and advertisements featuring the French international, escalating a dispute that has already cost him commercial partnerships with several Chinese companies.
Read Also: LaLiga reports record €5bn revenue amid global growth surge
The suspension poses a potential commercial setback for LaLiga, which has invested in expanding its international audience and considers China an important market. However, the financial impact of the decision and how long the restrictions will remain in place are not yet clear.
Read Also: Ballon d’Or chief reveals Mbappe nearly won the 2026 award
According to reports from Chinese media, the controversy began after a clip from an interview with the French football programme The Bridge circulated online. Asked about the internet meme that made him laugh the most, Mbappe referred to an image in which his face had been superimposed on that of “some guy; I think he’s a Chinese dictator”.
The image was understood to depict Mao, the founding leader of the People’s Republic of China, who remains a highly sensitive figure in the country’s political and cultural life.
The clip sparked a backlash on Chinese social media, with criticism directed at the player over remarks considered offensive to Chinese people. Although The Bridge subsequently removed the clip from its social media accounts, copies continued to circulate online.
The fallout quickly spread to Mbappe’s commercial relationships. Chinese beverage company Dongpeng and dairy producers Mengniu and Shanghai Milkground announced that they were ending their commercial cooperation with the footballer.
The companies cited opposition to words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. The financial value of the terminated agreements has not been disclosed.
Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.
