A Chinese broadcast blackout aimed at Real Madrid could test the club’s commercial ties.
La Liga clubs can breathe a sigh of relief as the league’s apology regarding Kylian Mbappé’s comments looks to have been well received by Chinese broadcasters.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Real Madrid. Reports show all scheduled La Liga matches were broadcast in China over the weekend except for Real Madrid’s 3-0 win against Racing Santander.
Chinese state television CCTV’s streaming partner, Migu, was meant to show the game. However, Madrid’s fixture on 1 November was erased from the schedule and not shown.
Comments made during an interview in April 2026 with French show The Bridge are what have landed the striker in China’s bad books.
He was quizzed on a meme that superimposed his face onto Mao Zedong, the former Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party. When discussing the image, he used the word “dictator”, referencing the Mbappé dictator meme that jokes he controls his team and teammates.
Six months after making the comment, the clip surfaced on Chinese social media. In reaction, three Chinese companies, including dairy producer Mengniu and drinks company Dongpeng, dropped the player from commercial agreements.
CCTV also threatened to trigger a blackout on La Liga matches, which it appears to have partially gone ahead with.
Apologies fail to convince the broadcaster
Mbappé and La Liga both apologised for the comments and Real Madrid later followed with an apology of its own.
Mbappé said his comment was “ill-judged”, adding that he now understands it “hurt a lot of people in China and in Chinese communities around the world”.
His apology read: “I apologise to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history and I’m sincerely sorry.”
However, it doesn’t appear to have settled the matter with the broadcaster. CCTV confirmed it had received an apology letter from Real Madrid via La Liga, but didn’t say whether it would lift its suspension before the weekend.
La Liga’s apology, which said it regretted the offence and that his comments didn’t represent the league, looks to have been enough to avoid a complete blackout, which will come as a relief to the league and its other clubs.
What the blackout means for Real Madrid
Ahead of Sunday’s match, Real Madrid Manager Jose Mourinho, who returned to the club in June, said the club had “nothing more to say” when reporters asked about the controversy.
“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,” said Mourinho.
Given CCTV wasn’t bluffing, the club may have to break its silence and go further than written apologies to resolve the issue.
It may feel inclined to do so because a portion of Real Madrid’s revenue is at stake. Hisense, Linglong Tire and sports betting firm Kaiyun Sports are three existing sponsors from the country.
If the club’s matches are no longer shown on Chinese screens, those brands could lose exposure in the domestic market and may look to negotiate a way out of their existing contracts.
Notably, sponsors haven’t indicated that they would be willing to walk away from deals at this moment in time.
