**Chinese state broadcaster CCTV suspended all La Liga transmissions in late October 2026 following remarks by Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé referencing a meme that depicted him alongside Mao Zedong, whom he described as a “dictator.”** The comments triggered commercial backlash, including canceled sponsorships by Chinese brands, and prompted China Media Group (which oversees CCTV) to halt broadcasts of the Spanish league. As of early November, CCTV’s sports channels have aired no La Liga matches, and the platform has removed the competition from its schedules and website menus. The digital rights holder Migu has also excluded Real Madrid fixtures while continuing some other La Liga coverage. Apologies issued by Mbappé, Real Madrid, and La Liga have been acknowledged but have not led to resumption. Given the political sensitivity surrounding Mao in China and the absence of any announced timeline for lifting the suspension, traders assign an 85% probability that CCTV will not air another Real Madrid match before the end of 2026.