Chinese streaming platform Migu has removed Real Madrid’s upcoming fixture against Racing Santander from its broadcast schedule, marking the latest development in the fallout surrounding Kylian Mbappé’s comments and its impact on the club’s Asian market presence.
Mundo Deportivo revealed that the digital platform erased the encounter from its weekend programming as Chinese backlash persists against the French forward’s remarks, despite his public apology.
Real Madrid is set to visit Racing on Sunday, November 1, at the El Sardinero stadium for Matchday 11 of La Liga—the team’s first outing following their El Clásico victory over Barcelona.
The move carries significant weight due to Migu’s prominent position within La Liga’s broadcasting ecosystem; the league announced a four-year partnership in August making Migu its official digital broadcast partner in mainland China from the 2026–2027 through the 2029–2030 seasons.
The agreement covers all 380 matches per season, alongside highlights, on-demand content, and short clips, distributed through a hybrid model combining free-to-air coverage and premium subscription services—positioning Migu as the primary gateway for Chinese supporters.
Migu’s decision to drop the match follows China Media Group’s earlier suspension of La Liga broadcasts and Mbappé-related content on state television, extending the crisis’s ramifications to one of the country’s flagship digital streaming partners.
The controversy was ignited after comments made by Mbappé regarding a meme featuring his face edited onto the body of Mao Zedong circulated widely, prompting major Chinese corporations to sever commercial ties with him before the player released an apology in three languages.
Real Madrid subsequently joined its player’s apology via an official statement, while La Liga President Javier Tebas met with China’s ambassador to Spain as the league announced the creation of an educational and cultural awareness protocol in coordination with clubs and players to prevent similar incidents.
