China’s state broadcaster CCTV did not show Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Racing Santander on Sunday, despite Kylian Mbappe apologising for remarks about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
Mbappe scored in the match, alongside Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande, but the fixture was absent from CCTV’s coverage after China Media Group announced it would suspend broadcasts of Spanish football’s La Liga.
China Media Group, the parent organisation of CCTV, made the announcement last Tuesday following widespread criticism of Mbappe’s comments. The controversy also resulted in several Chinese brands dropping the Real Madrid striker.
Mbappe had reportedly made the remarks during an appearance on the French talk show The Bridge. He said the meme that made him laugh most was one showing his face superimposed on a “Chinese dictator” resembling Mao.
He apologised later on Tuesday.
“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” Mbappe said.
Real Madrid and La Liga have also apologised. China Media Group had previously called apologies from Mbappe, Real Madrid and La Liga “an absolute prerequisite” for moving beyond the incident.
China’s foreign ministry said it took Mbappe’s apology “seriously”. China Media Group has acknowledged the apologies but has not said how long the suspension of broadcasts will continue.
The comments caused particular offence in China, where Mao remains revered by the Communist Party despite the catastrophic consequences of policies implemented during his rule.
Mao led the Chinese Communist Party to victory in the civil war and founded the People’s Republic of China. He died in 1976.
His leadership included the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. Those campaigns contributed to a famine that killed tens of millions and triggered violent purges throughout Chinese society.
The decision to remove football from television schedules is not the first time Beijing has suspended sports coverage because of political sensitivities.
NBA games were taken off air for a year from October 2019 after Daryl Morey, then general manager of Houston Rockets, posted a message supporting Hong Kong protesters during widespread pro-democracy demonstrations in the city.
Morey later withdrew his comment after facing strong criticism from Chinese fans, sponsors and commercial partners.
“I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives,” he later wrote.
“I have always appreciated the significant support our Chinese fans and sponsors… I would hope that those who are upset will know that offending or misunderstanding them was not my intention.”
