The controversial exchange between Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé and the Chinese government has generated a domino effect that affects the Spanish League, with different repercussions for Madrid and Barcelona. The controversy was triggered when Mbappé referred to Mao Zedong as a “dictator”, a comment that caused the cancellation of several sponsors and the severe reaction of the Chinese authorities.
According to sources from the media, the negotiations between the presidency of LaLiga, Javier Tebas, and the Chinese ambassador have yielded partial results. China Media Group (CMG), which controls the state broadcaster CCTV, has decided to suspend the broadcast of all LaLiga matches on its platform. The organization described Mbappé's statements as “offensive to the Chinese people” and considered that they exceed the limits of freedom of expression. An anonymous CMG representative warned that, although they will hear the player's and the club's apologies, "we will watch their actions much more closely" and demand that Real Madrid and the League rectify their behavior.
On the other hand, the Migu platform, owned by China Mobile and holder of the LaLiga transmission rights until 2030, has opted for an intermediate solution. Migu announced that it will continue broadcasting the entire competition, except for matches in which Real Madrid participates. This decision means that Chinese fans will be able to watch Barcelona and other teams' games, but they will not be able to follow the white team live.
The economic impact will be disproportionate. While Real Madrid and Mbappé have already seen contracts with several brands terminated, the loss of income from broadcast rights and the possible decrease in media exposure could significantly affect the white club. Barcelona, although it will also be indirectly affected by the cancellation of certain sponsors, will not suffer the same magnitude of loss, since its matches will continue to be available on most Chinese platforms.
The future of the relationship between LaLiga and the Chinese media remains uncertain. President Tebas has indicated that he will continue to dialogue with the authorities to find a solution that allows the teams and the competition to continue being visible in the Chinese market, one of the most lucrative in the world of football. Meanwhile, Chinese fans will have to wait for the disputes to be resolved to enjoy their favorite teams' matches again.