Football star Kylian Mbappé's match for Real Madrid was unavailable on television and digital streaming platforms in China. The La Liga giants' match against Racing Santander, alongside other La Liga matches, did not appear on the programming schedules of China's state broadcaster CCTV, China Mobile's streaming platform Migu Video, and other platforms. This development followed Mbappé's comments about Mao Zedong, the late founding leader of China.
Mbappé's comment about Mao Zedong enraged people in China, who accused him of insulting a country that has been a lucrative source of income for him. The 27-year-old later tendered an apology to the people of China over the anger his joke caused. He stated that his comment was ill-judged and that he now understands it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world.
Mbappé added that he has deep respect for the Chinese people and their history and is sincerely sorry. Despite his apology, three Chinese brands - Mengniu Dairy Company, cheese-making company Milkground Food Tech, and Dongpeng Beverage Group - announced the termination of their contracts with him.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, said at a briefing in Beijing that words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with a collective boycott by all sectors of Chinese society. This reaction from the Chinese public and brands highlights the significant impact of Mbappé's comments.
La Liga president Javier Tebas said he is maintaining dialogue with Chinese authorities in an effort to defuse the row. He mentioned that for now, they wait and see how the situation develops, as everything depends on things calming down. The situation has led to a significant backlash against Mbappé and La Liga in China.
The blocking of Real Madrid and La Liga matches in China is a significant development, given the country's large and growing interest in European football. The absence of these matches from Chinese television and streaming platforms will likely be felt by fans and could have implications for the sport's popularity in the country.
The incident highlights the challenges that athletes and sports organizations face when engaging with global audiences and the importance of being mindful of cultural sensitivities. As the situation continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how Mbappé, Real Madrid, and La Liga navigate the fallout and work to repair relationships with Chinese fans and partners.
Key points
- Mbappé's comments about Mao Zedong led to a backlash in China, resulting in the blocking of Real Madrid and La Liga matches.
- Three Chinese brands terminated their contracts with Mbappé following his comments.
- La Liga president Javier Tebas is maintaining dialogue with Chinese authorities to resolve the situation.
