Chinese state television has suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches following a controversy over Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe’s remarks about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
China Media Group (CMG), which oversees public broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), announced the decision on Tuesday, saying it had also suspended advertisements featuring the French international.
According to the state-owned media group, the decision was taken on Monday after a video containing Mbappe’s comments circulated online.
CMG said apologies from La Liga, Mbappe and Real Madrid were “an absolute prerequisite” for further discussions on the matter.
The controversy arose from an interview in which Mbappe discussed an internet meme featuring his face superimposed on an image of Mao, China’s founding leader.
In the viral video, the France captain referred to the figure as “a guy — I think he’s a Chinese dictator” while discussing the meme.
In a subsequent interview with L’Équipe, Mbappe acknowledged that the meme had an amusing element but expressed reservations about its historical implications.
He said it was less funny “because of the damage such people have caused throughout history”.
Following the backlash, Mbappe issued an apology on Tuesday, describing his remark as “ill-judged” and acknowledging that it had caused offence.
Also Read:
He said he understood “it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world”.
Spain’s La Liga also apologised in a separate statement, saying it “deeply regrets the offence that Kylian Mbappe’s recent comments have caused among Chinese fans”.
The controversy has also affected the forward’s commercial partnerships in China, with major brands, including beverage giant Dongpeng, dairy producer Mengniu and Milkground, ending their agreements with him.
Dongpeng said it “firmly opposes and has zero tolerance for any conduct that hurts national feelings”.
Mengniu similarly said it “firmly opposes any words or actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people”.
China’s Foreign Ministry also weighed in on the controversy, saying remarks that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people would naturally face “unanimous rejection”.
The suspension of La Liga broadcasts adds to the fallout from the controversy, with CMG maintaining that apologies from the parties involved are necessary before further discussions can take place.
[wpadcenter_ad id='745970' align='none']
