Kylian Mbappe faces China backlash as CCTV reportedly halts La Liga broadcasts

Kylian Mbappe’s dispute in China has escalated, with public broadcaster CCTV reportedly suspending broadcasts of La Liga matches involving the Real Madrid forward and removing advertisements featuring him.

The reported decision took effect overnight from Monday into Tuesday, according to Spanish news agency EFE, which cited the local newspaper The Paper and sources within the broadcaster. CCTV has not made an official announcement about the move.

The development follows the decision by three Chinese companies to end their advertising agreements with Mbappe. Drinks company Dongpeng, dairy producer Mengniu and cheese manufacturer Milkground had all previously used the player’s name and image in promotional campaigns.

The companies said they had acted in line with a policy of “zero tolerance” towards comments or behaviour considered offensive to Chinese national sentiment. The controversy has also spread widely on Chinese social media.

How the controversy began

The dispute centres on a video in which Mbappe discussed satirical images created using his facial features. He reportedly said the funniest example was an edited image showing his face on the body of a man he believed to be a “Chinese dictator”.

Agence France-Presse’s digital fact-checking service was initially unable to verify the authenticity of the video. However, the interpretation that gained traction linked Mbappe’s comments to a satirical image combining his face with that of Mao Zedong, the former Chinese leader.

The incident prompted widespread criticism in China, with Mbappe accused of insulting national sentiment. What began as a debate on social media has since developed into a dispute affecting both sponsorship agreements and sports broadcasting.

China’s foreign ministry responds

The issue has also drawn a response from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its involvement came as the controversy moved beyond online criticism and corporate decisions.

At a regular news conference on Tuesday, ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said it was natural for Chinese people to reject comments they believed were offensive.

“Any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with widespread rejection from the entire Chinese society,” Guo said.

While CCTV has not formally confirmed that it will stop showing the relevant matches, the reports point to growing consequences for Mbappe in the Chinese market.

The three advertising partnerships have ended, while supporters in China could also lose access to La Liga matches in which the Real Madrid forward plays.