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Chinese state TV continues Real Madrid blackout after Mbappe-Mao meme row

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In short

China Media Group maintained its broadcast suspension during Sunday's fixture against Racing Santander, keeping matches off CCTV's sports channels and the state-owned streaming service Migu. The blackout stems from an April video in which Mbappe labeled Mao a dictator while explaining an internet meme. Although China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged subsequent apologies, it remains unclear if formal negotiations have begun to resolve the standoff. Major Chinese sponsors have already canceled their endorsement deals with the French forward.

Key points

  • Broadcast restrictions remain active despite formal apologies issued by Kylian Mbappe, Re…: Broadcast restrictions remain active despite formal apologies issued by Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid, and La Liga leadership.
  • The dispute reflects the heightened commercial and political vulnerabilities foreign spor…: The dispute reflects the heightened commercial and political vulnerabilities foreign sports leagues face when operating within the Chinese market.
  • Chinese authorities have previously deployed prolonged broadcast blackouts against intern…: Chinese authorities have previously deployed prolonged broadcast blackouts against international leagues over sensitive political statements, including the NBA in 2019.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Real Madrid vs Racing Santander is not broadcast on CCTV despite apologies from Mbappe, Real and La Liga.

Real Madrid’s Spanish football league match against Racing Santander has not been broadcast on Chinese state TV as La Liga continues to pay the price of the fallout from Kylian Mbappe’s remarks about the country’s former leader Mao Zedong.

Neither of the two sports channels on the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV aired Real Madrid’s match on Sunday after star forward Mbappe caused a furore in the Asian country, where millions follow the Spanish league.

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The match kicked off at 15:15 GMT but was not broadcast on either of CCTV’s two sports channels, according to the AFP news agency.

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