China refuses to air Real Madrid match after Kylian Mbappe’s joke about Mao

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV did not air Real Madrid ’s La Liga match against Racing Santander on Sunday, despite Kylian Mbappé’s apology over his remarks about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong . Last week, the star striker sparked controversy after joking on a French television programme that the meme he found funniest showed his face superimposed on that of “a Chinese dictator” resembling Mao – although he did not mention Mao by name. China acknowledged his apology on Wednesday, with foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun telling reporters: “We take seriously the apology the individual concerned has made.” In China , where Mao’s legacy as the founder of the People’s Republic is revered, mocking him or describing him as a dictator is strictly taboo. France captain Mbappé, 27, said his remarks were “ill-judged”. A dominant force at both club level with Real Madrid and with the national team, Mbappé has been described as having a dictatorial style of leadership in the dressing room. His comments had triggered a widespread backlash in China , where Mao remains a revered figure despite his responsibility for policies associated with mass starvation and millions of deaths. Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe looks back during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Racing de Santander and Real Madrid in Santander, Spain, Sunday, 1 November 2026 (AP) CCTV’s parent organisation, China Media Group (CMG), had announced a suspension of La Liga broadcasts following the controversy, demanding apologies from Mbappé, Real Madrid and the league as “an absolute prerequisite” for resolving the dispute. All three subsequently apologised. Mbappé said: “My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world.” While CMG acknowledged the apologies, it has not clarified when broadcasts might resume. The controversy has also had commercial consequences for Mbappé, with several Chinese brands dropping him from sponsorship deals. pic.twitter.com/MQBo9NCSy5 — Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) October 27, 2026 Real Madrid defeated Racing Santander 3-0 on Sunday, with Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande scoring. China is a major market for European football, with state broadcaster CCTV also televising matches from the Premier League and the German, French and Italian top divisions. Last week, Reuters reported that league president Javier Tebas established a crisis unit and met Chinese ambassador Yao Jing on Wednesday as Spanish football sought to contain the fallout. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho said on Saturday that the club had “nothing more to say”. “These are the dangers ​of today’s world, where many times the best thing you can do is not open ​your mouth. Because there is risk in so many things you say or comment on,” Mourinho told reporters ‌ahead ⁠of Sunday’s match. “But I have also seen him (Mbappe) act very responsibly with a club that, at this regard, is of great class. As far as we’re concerned, that’s it. We have nothing more to say. “Both Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe had the class to react immediately, and ​I feel, as manager, ​very well represented by ⁠both of them.”