According to a report by Madrid Universal on Saturday October 31, 2026, Real Madrid are facing a blackout of their La Liga matches on a major Chinese streaming platform following the controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappe.

The dispute has created a commercial problem for the Spanish club. While Barcelona and other sides are expected to retain coverage, Madrid could be excluded from broadcasts on Migu.

According to reports, China Media Group, which operates state broadcaster CCTV, has temporarily suspended coverage of the entire league. It has also rejected the initial apologies from Mbappe and Real Madrid, describing them as insufficient. An unnamed representative said the broadcaster would pay closer attention to their actions than their words.

Migu, a China Mobile subsidiary holding La Liga broadcasting rights until 2030, has taken a different approach. The platform intends to continue showing the competition but exclude matches involving Madrid. Consequently, Chinese viewers could still watch Barcelona and other Spanish clubs, while Real Madrid fixtures would be unavailable on the service.

The controversy began after Mbappe commented on a meme comparing him with former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. The French forward described the figure as a dictator, triggering criticism in China. Although he later apologised, the incident has reportedly cost him three sponsorship agreements in the country.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has also intervened to resolve the dispute. He met China’s ambassador to Spain in an attempt to ease tensions and protect the league’s commercial relationship with the country.

The consequences could extend beyond Mbappe’s personal endorsements. Real Madrid own a share of the forward’s image rights, meaning the club could also suffer financially if the restrictions continue. The exact losses remain unclear, but a prolonged blackout could weaken Madrid’s commercial presence in China.

The club has expressed respect for its Chinese supporters and will hope to settle the matter quickly.