BEIJING — China's state broadcaster CCTV did not televise Real Madrid's 3-0 victory over Racing Santander on Sunday, November 1, despite forward Kylian Mbappé apologising for remarks about an internet meme depicting him as former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

The decision came days after China Media Group (CMG), CCTV's parent organisation, announced that it would suspend La Liga broadcasts following the controversy.

The backlash began after a video circulated online showing Mbappé discussing a meme in which his face was superimposed on an image resembling Mao. He described it as the funniest image of himself he had seen.

In the clip, Mbappé referred to the figure as "some guy — I think he's a Chinese dictator", although he did not explicitly name Mao.

The French forward later apologised, acknowledging that his comments had caused offence in China and among Chinese communities elsewhere.

"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 a statement on Tuesday.

Real Madrid and La Liga also issued apologies as criticism mounted.

Before the apologies were made, CMG had described them as "an absolute prerequisite" for resolving the dispute. Although all three parties subsequently responded, the broadcaster has yet to say when its La Liga coverage will resume.

The suspension has affected La Liga's coverage on Chinese state television, although it does not necessarily mean matches have disappeared from every broadcasting platform in the country. Some digital services have continued to offer Spanish football coverage.

Chinese brands distance themselves from Mbappé.

The controversy has also had commercial consequences for Mbappé in China.

At least three Chinese companies — beverage producer Dongpeng, dairy company Mengniu and cheese maker Milkground — announced that they were ending their partnerships with the Real Madrid forward.

China's Football Association also criticised the remarks and called for formal public apologies from Mbappé and Real Madrid.

The country's Foreign Ministry said it took Mbappé's apology seriously, while noting that remarks considered offensive to the Chinese people would naturally draw criticism.

Mao's complicated legacy in China

Mao Zedong remains a central figure in China's political history. He led the Chinese Communist Party to victory in the civil war and founded the People's Republic of China in 1949, remaining the country's leader until his death in 1976.

Although Mao retains a prominent place in the country's official historical narrative, his rule is also associated with some of the most devastating events in modern Chinese history.

The Great Leap Forward, launched in 1958, contributed to a catastrophic famine that killed tens of millions of people. The Cultural Revolution, which began in 1966, brought widespread political persecution, violent purges and social upheaval.

His legacy remains politically and historically sensitive in China, helping explain the strong reaction to the meme.

China has previously suspended sports broadcasts

The latest dispute is not the first time Chinese broadcasters have withdrawn coverage of an international sporting competition following a political controversy.

In October 2019, Chinese state television stopped broadcasting NBA games after Daryl Morey, then general manager of the Houston Rockets, posted a message supporting protesters in Hong Kong.

Morey later sought to ease tensions, saying he had listened to different perspectives and had not intended to offend Chinese fans or sponsors.

The dispute disrupted the NBA's relationship with China and highlighted the commercial risks international sports organisations face when political sensitivities become involved.

Real Madrid secure a 3-0 victory.

While CCTV kept the match off its schedule, Real Madrid secured a 3-0 victory over Racing Santander at El Sardinero on Sunday.

Mbappé opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Jude Bellingham added a second. Yan Diomande completed the scoring before half-time.

Despite the apologies from Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga, CCTV has not announced when regular broadcasts of the Spanish league will return.