Real Madrid could lose access to a significant part of the Chinese television audience for their La Liga fixtures following the controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappe, according to a report by Madrid Universal on Saturday, October 31, 2026.

The dispute has reportedly created uncertainty over the club’s broadcasting arrangements in China, where one of the country’s major streaming services is considering removing Madrid matches from its coverage. Under the proposed approach, supporters would continue to watch Barcelona and other Spanish teams, but fixtures involving the European giants could be unavailable.

China Media Group, the organisation overseeing state broadcaster CCTV, has reportedly suspended broadcasts of the Spanish league while the disagreement remains unresolved. The organisation is also said to have dismissed the initial apologies issued by Mbappe and Real Madrid, believing they did not adequately address the concerns raised. An unnamed representative reportedly indicated that the parties’ future actions would carry more weight than their public statements.

Migu, a China Mobile subsidiary holding La Liga broadcasting rights until 2030, has reportedly taken a different position. Instead of stopping coverage of the entire competition, the platform is considering continuing its broadcasts while leaving out matches involving Real Madrid. If introduced, the arrangement would allow Chinese viewers to follow other La Liga clubs without having access to Madrid’s games through the service.

The disagreement reportedly followed comments Mbappe made about an internet meme comparing him with former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The French forward described Mao as a dictator, a remark that attracted criticism from some members of the Chinese public.

Mbappe later apologised, but the incident is reportedly already affecting his commercial standing in the country. Three sponsorship agreements are said to have been lost following the controversy, although the full extent of the financial consequences remains unclear.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has reportedly entered discussions aimed at easing tensions. He is said to have met China’s ambassador to Spain as part of efforts to address the disagreement and protect the competition’s commercial relationship with the Asian market.

The possible broadcasting restrictions could also affect Real Madrid financially. The club reportedly owns a share of Mbappe’s image rights, meaning difficulties surrounding the forward’s commercial activities may have consequences beyond his personal sponsorship arrangements. Any exclusion of Madrid fixtures from a major streaming platform could further reduce the club’s visibility among Chinese supporters and affect its commercial reach in the country.

The exact financial losses have not been established, and it remains unclear whether Migu will ultimately implement the proposed restrictions. Real Madrid have previously expressed appreciation for their supporters in China and will be hoping the dispute can be settled before it causes lasting damage to the club’s relationship with its audience there.