According to a report by Daily Graphic on Monday November 2, 2026, China’s state-owned broadcaster has reportedly continued its decision to keep Spanish football matches off television following a controversy involving Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé and remarks he made about the country’s former leader, Mao Zedong.

The development has attracted international attention after China’s state broadcaster, China Central Television (CCTV), failed to televise Real Madrid’s La Liga encounter against Racing Santander on Sunday, November 1, 2026, despite an apology from the French football star.

The controversy reportedly began after a video from a French television programme circulated online, showing Mbappé discussing an internet meme featuring his face superimposed onto the image of Mao Zedong.

During the conversation, the Real Madrid forward reportedly described the person in the image as a Chinese dictator, a comment that triggered widespread criticism among Chinese social media users.

The remarks were considered offensive by many because Mao Zedong remains a highly sensitive historical and political figure in China, where he is widely recognised as the founder of the People's Republic of China.

Following the backlash, China Media Group (CMG), the organisation responsible for overseeing CCTV, announced that it had suspended broadcasts of Spanish La Liga matches and advertisements involving Mbappé.

The organisation also demanded formal apologies from the footballer, Real Madrid and La Liga, describing them as an absolute prerequisite for resolving the controversy.

Mbappé subsequently issued an apology, admitting that his comment was ill-judged and acknowledging that it had hurt people in China and Chinese communities around the world.

Real Madrid and La Liga also expressed regret over the incident and apologised to Chinese supporters.

China's Foreign Ministry indicated that it took the footballer's apology seriously. However, the broadcaster has yet to announce when regular La Liga coverage will resume.

The decision became particularly noticeable on Sunday when CCTV failed to show Real Madrid's match against Racing Santander, which ended in a 3-0 victory for the Spanish giants.

Interestingly, Mbappé was among the goalscorers, alongside Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande.

The controversy has also affected the footballer's commercial interests, with several major Chinese companies reportedly ending their sponsorship relationships with him following the uproar.

The incident highlights the growing influence of political and cultural sensitivities on international sporting partnerships, particularly in China, which remains an important commercial market for European football.