China stops La Liga broadcasts amid Kylian Mbappe meme controversy

China’s state broadcaster CCTV has stopped showing La Liga matches, as well as any games involving Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, after comments by the France international about a satirical image comparing him with former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

The decision took effect on Tuesday, according to Spanish news agency EFE. It follows earlier measures that included the removal of all advertisements and videos featuring Mbappe.

Chinese authorities warned that words and actions which “hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will be rejected by all sectors of society”.

The broadcaster’s decision came as several Chinese companies announced they were ending their commercial partnerships with Mbappe, saying they rejected behaviour considered offensive to the Chinese people.

The dispute has also affected his standing on Chinese sports media.

Chinese sports website Dongqiudi replaced Mbappe’s name with the phrase “this person does not exist” in its 2026 Ballon d’Or ranking. Mbappe was listed second behind England captain Harry Kane, while Spain forward Lamine Yamal was third.

The Chinese phrase used in place of the player’s name can be translated as either “this person does not exist” or “this person could not be found”.

Comments that triggered the backlash

The controversy began after Mbappe was asked in a recent interview about his favourite meme.

“My favourite meme is the one where they use my face on the picture of a Chinese dictator. I use it a lot with my friends,” he said.

Mbappe did not directly name a Chinese official. However, a manipulated image showing his face placed over a picture of Mao Zedong had circulated widely on social media in recent months.

The report also included listings for upcoming La Liga fixtures involving Barcelona on 31 October 2026, a match between Deportivo Alaves and Racing Santander on 1 November 2026, and Real Madrid.