Mbappé China row: CCTV halts LaLiga broadcasts, sponsors quit

Real Madrid's French forward Kylian Mbappé is facing a major backlash in China after referring to a "Chinese dictator" while describing an internet meme on the French programme The Bridge. According to Spanish news agency Efe, citing sources inside the broadcaster and local outlet The Paper, Chinese state television CCTV suspended its coverage of LaLiga, including matches featuring Mbappé, overnight into 27 October 2026. The decision reportedly took effect without any official announcement.

What did Mbappé say?

Asked which online post using his face made him laugh the most, Mbappé said it was a video in which his face had been placed on a Chinese dictator, adding that he uses it with his friends all the time, according to Turkish outlet Sözcü. A montage showing his face on a figure resembling Mao Zedong was displayed on screen as he spoke. Mbappé did not name anyone, but the comment was widely read in China as a reference to the People's Republic's founding leader. AFP's fact-checking service said it could not verify the authenticity of the circulating video, GOAL reported.

Which sponsors cut ties and what did CCTV do?

Drinks maker Dongpeng and dairy giant Mengniu announced they were ending their commercial partnerships with Mbappé. AFP reported that cheese producer Milkground followed suit, so reports put the number of departing brands at two or three. The companies cited a "zero tolerance" stance towards words and actions they consider hurtful to the feelings of the Chinese people. CCTV also reportedly pulled advertisements and promotional content featuring the France international from its schedule.

The backlash spread online too. Chinese sports portal Dongqiudi removed Mbappé's name from its 2026 Ballon d'Or rankings, in which he finished second, and replaced it with a phrase meaning "no such person", Mundo Deportivo reported, citing EFE.

How did the Chinese government respond?

China's foreign ministry treated the backlash as a natural response. Speaking at the ministry's regular press briefing on 27 October 2026, spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing had taken note of the reports and that words and actions hurting the feelings of the Chinese people would naturally draw a reaction from all sectors of Chinese society.

At the time of writing, none of the cited reports included any statement from Real Madrid, LaLiga or Mbappé himself, and it remains unclear whether the forward will issue an apology.

How did the row unfold?

1. October 2026 — Mbappé refers to a "Chinese dictator" on France's The Bridge; the clip spreads on social media.
2. Before 27 October 2026 — Dongpeng and Mengniu, and per AFP also Milkground, end their deals with Mbappé.
3. Overnight into 27 October 2026 — CCTV suspends LaLiga and Mbappé-related coverage and pulls his adverts.
4. 27 October 2026 — Foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun calls the public reaction natural.
5. 27 October 2026 — Dongqiudi replaces Mbappé's name in its Ballon d'Or list with "no such person".

What happens next?

CCTV has not said how long the suspension will last, leaving Chinese viewers without state-TV coverage of Real Madrid's upcoming fixtures. Real Madrid visit Racing Santander in LaLiga on 1 November 2026 and travel to AEK Athens in the Champions League on 4 November 2026 (ScoreLab data). On the pitch, Mbappé has been in strong form: he scored both goals in Real Madrid's 2-1 win at Barcelona on 25 October 2026. ScoreLab will update this story as it develops.