'Ongoing dialogue' with China after Mbappe row: Liga chief Tebas

China’s state broadcaster CCTV halted the airing of La Liga matches on Sunday, despite Kylian Mbappé’s apology for remarks perceived as disrespectful to the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Mbappé sparked widespread outrage after joking that a meme in which his face was superimposed over a dictator resembling Mao was his favorite.

CCTV’s parent company China Media Group announced on Tuesday it would suspend broadcasts of Spanish football matches due to the controversy, which led to Mbappé being dropped by several Chinese brands. The foreign ministry expressed serious consideration of Mbappé’s apology. Real Madrid and La Liga also issued apologies. China Media Group had previously demanded apologies from all three parties, deeming them essential for moving past the incident.

While it acknowledged the apologies, the corporation has not disclosed when the broadcast blackout will end. Mbappé reportedly made the meme remark during a French talk show, later issuing a statement expressing regret. "My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world," he said.

In China, Mao is revered by the Communist Party, despite his brutal rule, which included the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution leading to millions of deaths. This action is not the first time Beijing has suspended sports broadcasts due to political sensitivities. The NBA was barred from airing games for a year in October 2019 after its general manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for Hong Kong protesters.

Morey later stepped back from his comment amid intense backlash from Chinese fans, sponsors, and partners.