Chinese broadcaster maintains La Liga suspension after Mbappé meme
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Nouvelle Tribune
China Media Group is maintaining its suspension of La Liga broadcasts after Kylian Mbappé’s joke about a Mao Zedong meme, despite apologies from the player and Real Madrid. The group is also demanding apologies from the club and the league, while platform Migu has removed a match from its schedule, reports Marca.
China Media Group is maintaining its suspension of La Liga broadcasts, the Spanish football league, after Kylian Mbappé joked about a meme depicting Mao Zedong. The Chinese media group is demanding sincere apologies from Real Madrid and La Liga, in addition to the player’s apology, reports La Nouvelle Tribune.
Chinese platform Migu has also removed the match between Racing Santander and Real Madrid, scheduled for 1 November, from its programming. La Liga president Javier Tebas has met China’s ambassador to Spain in an effort to preserve the league’s commercial agreements. Two Chinese sponsors, Dongpeng and Mengniu, have also ended their contracts with Mbappé.
The footage that sparked the controversy was reportedly filmed in April. Real Madrid apologised to China on 29 October, but the broadcast suspension remains in place. The club’s trip to Santander may therefore not be broadcast in China.
The suspension was announced on 27 October, after Kylian Mbappé apologised and Chinese sponsorship contracts were terminated. Real Madrid subsequently issued its own apology to China, but China Media Group has not lifted the measure.
