Mbappé takes Chinese state television to suspend transmission of La Liga

A chinese state television CCTV suspended, since Monday, the broadcasts of games of the Spanish Football League, after statements of the advance of the Real Madrid Kylian Mbappé on a humorous image that compares it to Mao Zedong.

Second reported today the Chinese media agency The Paper, which cites sources related to the public station, the measure came into effect on Monday night and also includes the withdrawal of all ads and videos starring the French footballer.

The decision joins with those announced today by several Chinese companies, including the Dongpeng beverage group and dairy companies Mengniu and Milkground, who communicated the end of commercial cooperation with Mbappé, expressing rejection for behaviors that undermine the feelings of the Chinese people.

Dongpeng Beverage Group, through its official account and Bu Shui La brand, released reports on the Chinese social network Weibo, similar to platform X, blocked in China, in which it announced the immediate disruption of commercial relations with the player, invoking a policy of “zero tolerance towards behaviors that undermine national feelings”.

Mengniu and Milkground also confirmed the end of their trade agreements with the French advance, although none of the companies specified in the notices the specific incident that motivated the decision.

In recent months, Mbappé's announcements to promote Bu Shui La brand drinks have often appeared in bus stops, public transport vehicles and Chinese city elevators, especially during the 2026 World Cup.

Mengniu, one of China's leading dairy groups, has a significant presence in international sports sponsorship, with agreements associated with the World Cup, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Argentine football player Lionel Messi, while Milkground also used the image of Mbappé in its advertising campaigns.

The Chinese platform Xiaohongshu, known internationally as RedNote, reported today that collaboration with Mbappé ended on December 31, 2024, with the end of the contract, and announced that it is reviewing and withdrawing player-related content.

The controversy began after Mbappé was questioned, in a recent interview, about his favorite humorous image on the Internet, known as ‘meme’.

“ The one I laughed the most about was one where they used my face on a Chinese dictator. I use it a lot with my friends”, said the player.

Although the footballer did not specifically mention any leader, in recent months it has become popular on social media a montage that overlaps his face with a portrait of Mao Zedong, founder of the People's Republic of China.

In China, satires addressed to former leaders and historical figures associated with the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) can be punished under the legislation that criminalises the “difference of heroes and martyrs” in a context of strong censorship of political content.

The controversy joins other recent episodes involving Spanish football clubs in China.

In September, official Chinese media criticized Real Madrid following the publication of a message that jointly mentioned Nepal and the Chinese region of Tibet, following floods, a formulation considered “incorrect” by the local press.

In April, FC Barcelona apologized after publishing an image with the flag of Taiwan on a page associated with its international academy.

In February, Real Madrid released an apology to defense Dean Huijsen, after the player republished on Instagram a content considered racist and offensive to Asian citizens.