La Liga broadcasts suspended in China after Mbappé controversy
State broadcaster CCTV also removes footage and adverts featuring the French footballer.
Follow-up to: Chinese brands distance themselves from Mbappé after Mao remark Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 07:53
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Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has suspended broadcasts of La Liga and matches involving Kylian Mbappé. Advertisements and videos featuring the Real Madrid forward have also been removed, international media report.
The measure follows uproar over a video in which Mbappé reportedly discusses an internet meme showing his face superimposed on that of Mao Zedong, according to international reports. The authenticity and full context of the video have not been independently established.
CCTV is said to have stopped the broadcasts on Monday evening. According to reports by Spanish news agency EFE, cited by Hola News, the measure applies to La Liga generally and to matches involving Mbappé. The Chinese state broadcaster has so far not publicly provided further details about the move.
The controversy therefore goes beyond the commercial consequences already known. Chinese brands, including drinks producer Dongpeng and dairy companies Mengniu and Milkground, announced on Tuesday that they were ending their partnerships with Mbappé. They referred to conduct that they said offended the feelings of the Chinese public.
The issue shows how vulnerable international sports marketing can be when a prominent athlete clashes with national sensitivities. Mbappé is a major international star and was highly visible in advertising campaigns in China. For La Liga, the removal of broadcasts could affect its reach and commercial value in a major market.
It is unclear how long the measure will last and whether CCTV is removing only matches involving Mbappé or La Liga from its schedule on a structural basis. It has also not been established whether the Chinese government directly ordered the move. Several sources do report that the state broadcaster halted the broadcasts and that companies ended their contracts.
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Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s central claims are confirmed by multiple independent public sources dated 27 October. Details about the video’s origins and full context remain uncertain and have therefore been explicitly qualified.
- confirmed CCTV has suspended broadcasts of La Liga and matches involving Mbappé. — Reported by AS/ EFE and Cadena SER. source
- confirmed Chinese brands ended their partnerships with Mbappé. — AFP names Dongpeng and Mengniu; other reports also mention Milkground. source
- confirmed The video’s full context and authenticity have not been independently established. — AFP reports that its authenticity could not immediately be verified. source
Editor's note
The suspension and the ending of commercial partnerships have been reported by multiple sources. The precise scope, duration and immediate trigger of CCTV’s decision have not been fully confirmed.Sources
The story so far
- Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 07:53 Chinese brands distance themselves from Mbappé after Mao remark
- Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 11:55 La Liga broadcasts suspended in China after Mbappé controversy (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- de Volkskrant — „mbappé china”
- RTL Nieuws — „mbappé china”
- NOS — „mbappé china”