Chinese state television has stopped showing La Liga games after a political issue arose from a remark by Real Madrid player Kylian Mbappé. This concerns a popular clip where the French athlete described a past Chinese leader with a critical term.
Broadcasts pulled over weekend
During the weekend, scheduled La Liga games were absent from CCTV's sports programming. It was uncertain if these were removed from the schedule or not included at all. While the primary state channel stopped its coverage, a digital platform run by a state-owned telecom company still offered some games.
China represents a significant audience for European soccer, with its main broadcaster also showing other major leagues. This action is similar to a prior conflict where China distanced itself from the NBA for a long period following a social media post by a team official about Hong Kong.
Real Madrid's manager stated the team had taken steps to move past the incident. Following his words, prominent Chinese companies have allegedly ended their endorsement agreements with the player. This development raises questions about the league's presence in an important region, affecting other popular clubs there.
The club is set to play another match, where the player is aiming for an individual achievement related to scoring against various league teams. He has a notable goal record since joining the club.
Real Madrid described the remarks as regrettable and reaffirmed its positive feelings towards its supporters in China.
Experts observe that the economic effect of halting broadcasts is still unknown, but the decision demonstrates a readiness to employ commercial access as a tool in disagreements. The NBA's past situation involved considerable monetary loss and tense relations before broadcasts slowly resumed.
Other European soccer leagues broadcasting in China are watching events carefully, noting the increased delicacy of the matter. The player's words occurred in a casual online interaction, but the recording spread widely on Chinese sites before removal.
Read the full report at Goal.com
