Mbappé Controversy Costs La Liga TV Coverage in China

Chinese state broadcaster China Media Group (CMG) has suspended broadcasts of Spanish football league La Liga following a controversy involving Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé and a viral meme depicting him as former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

The decision followed backlash over comments Mbappé made during an interview on the French online programme The Bridge. The controversy has also cost the French football star three Chinese commercial partnerships.

The incident began when Mbappé was asked to identify the meme about himself that had made him laugh the most. He reportedly referred to an image showing his face superimposed on that of a Chinese dictator. Although he did not explicitly name Mao Zedong, the image circulating online depicted the former Chinese leader, a politically and historically sensitive figure in China.

The comments triggered criticism among Chinese commentators and sections of the public, with some viewing the joke as disrespectful to the country’s people and history.

In response, CMG suspended La Liga broadcasts and related content featuring Mbappé. The broadcaster also demanded satisfactory apologies from the player, Real Madrid and La Liga before further discussions could take place.

However, the broadcaster reportedly rejected Real Madrid’s explanations that Mbappé had not intended to cause offence and was expressing a personal opinion. It maintained that the club could not distance itself from the incident.

Mbappé subsequently apologised, describing his comment as ill-judged and acknowledging that it had hurt people in China and Chinese communities around the world. He also expressed respect for the Chinese people and their history.

La Liga similarly expressed regret over the offence caused, explaining that the comments were made in Mbappé’s personal capacity and did not represent the organisation. League president Javier Tebas also engaged with Chinese officials in an effort to address the dispute and repair relations.

The backlash has extended beyond television coverage. Chinese beverage company Dongpeng and dairy businesses Mengniu and Milkground announced that they were ending their commercial partnerships with the Real Madrid forward, citing concerns over conduct considered offensive to Chinese national sentiment.

The controversy could have wider commercial implications for Mbappé and La Liga, given China’s importance as a market for international football, sponsorships and broadcasting rights.

The future of La Liga broadcasts on Chinese state television remains uncertain, with CMG insisting that a satisfactory apology from Real Madrid is necessary before the matter can progress. No confirmed date has been announced for the resumption of coverage.

The incident highlights how comments made by a prominent footballer outside the pitch can affect clubs, sponsors and international broadcasting relationships.