China’s state broadcaster has continued its suspension of Spanish football coverage involving Real Madrid following a controversy surrounding French football superstar Kylian Mbappé and comments he made about former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

The broadcaster, China Central Television (CCTV), did not show Real Madrid’s La Liga encounter against Racing Santander on Sunday, 1 November 2026, despite apologies issued by Mbappé, Real Madrid and the Spanish football league.

The match, which kicked off at 15:15 GMT, was absent from both of CCTV’s sports channels. The decision has raised fresh questions about the future of Spanish football broadcasting in one of the sport’s biggest international markets.

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé faces backlash in China following controversial remarks.

How the Controversy Started

The dispute began after a video featuring Mbappé circulated widely online. In the clip, the French international discussed an internet meme showing his face superimposed onto the image of a Chinese dictator, apparently referring to Mao Zedong.

The remark triggered considerable criticism in China, where Mao remains a highly sensitive historical and political figure.

Mbappé subsequently acknowledged that his comment was poorly judged and apologised, saying he understood that it had hurt people in China and Chinese communities around the world.

Real Madrid players during their La Liga encounter against Racing Santander.

China Demands Apologies

China Media Group (CMG), the organisation overseeing CCTV, had announced a suspension of La Liga broadcasts following the controversy.

The organisation indicated that apologies from Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga were necessary before the situation could move forward.

All three parties subsequently issued apologies. China’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed that it took Mbappé’s apology seriously.

However, the broadcaster has not announced when regular coverage of the Spanish league will resume.

China’s state broadcaster CCTV, which did not air the Real Madrid fixture.

Real Madrid Still Secures Victory

Despite the controversy surrounding the club, Real Madrid went on to defeat Racing Santander 3-0 in Sunday’s fixture.

Mbappé opened the scoring, while Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande also found the back of the net to complete the victory.

The match result, however, did little to resolve the broadcasting dispute, as CCTV maintained its decision not to show the game.

Mao Zedong’s historical legacy remains politically sensitive in China.

Commercial Fallout for Mbappé

The controversy has also affected Mbappé’s commercial relationships in China. Several major Chinese companies reportedly ended their sponsorship partnerships with the footballer following the backlash.

China represents an important market for international football, making the dispute potentially significant for Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga.

The situation has drawn comparisons with China’s 2019 suspension of NBA broadcasts after comments by a Houston Rockets executive supporting Hong Kong protesters.

Real Madrid secured victory despite the controversy surrounding the club.

What Happens Next?

It remains uncertain how long the broadcasting restrictions will continue. Although CMG has acknowledged the apologies, there has been no clear announcement confirming when La Liga coverage will return to Chinese state television.

For now, the incident highlights how comments made by internationally recognised athletes can have consequences extending beyond the sporting arena, particularly in markets where political and cultural sensitivities carry significant commercial weight.

DEBIBI UNITED have pulled off a major upset in the Ghana Premier League after defeating Hearts of Oak 1-0 at Debibi Presby Park on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

The victory brought an end to the Phobians’ impressive three-match winning streak and handed the newly promoted side a memorable result against one of Ghana’s traditional football giants.

Sarkodie Demetrous emerged as the hero for the hosts, scoring the decisive goal in the 51st minute after a well-constructed attacking move. His finish beat Hearts goalkeeper Benjamin Asare and sent the home supporters into celebration.

Hearts of Oak had entered the encounter hoping to extend their winning run and maintain their position at the top end of the league standings. However, the visitors struggled to impose themselves on the game, particularly in midfield, where Debibi United showed greater control and determination.

The Phobians created some promising opportunities during the first half. Kader came close to opening the scoring in the eighth minute, but the Debibi goalkeeper produced an important save.

Benjamin Asare also kept Hearts in the contest with a fine intervention in the 13th minute to deny the home side.

Following Demetrous’ breakthrough, Hearts attempted to respond with attacking substitutions and increased pressure. However, Debibi United remained organised defensively and successfully protected their advantage until the final whistle.

The result represents a significant achievement for Debibi United in their debut Ghana Premier League campaign. The three points lifted them out of the relegation zone, providing renewed confidence for their upcoming fixtures.

For Hearts of Oak, the defeat is a setback in their title ambitions. The Accra-based club dropped to third position, missing the opportunity to strengthen their grip on the league’s top positions.

Debibi United will now turn their attention to their next league assignment against Dreams FC, while Hearts of Oak will seek an immediate response when they face Heart of Lions.

The result serves as another reminder that the Ghana Premier League remains unpredictable, with newly promoted teams capable of challenging even the country’s most established clubs.

Alexander Zverev suffered a disappointing defeat at the Vienna Open after Australia’s Alex de Minaur produced an impressive performance to eliminate the German in a dramatic semi-final encounter.

De Minaur secured a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) victory over Zverev on Saturday, October 31, ending the German’s hopes of reaching the tournament final just days before he was set to become the men’s world number one.

The German, who was the top seed at the competition, started strongly by claiming the opening set 6-4. However, De Minaur responded emphatically in the second set, dominating proceedings to level the match with a convincing 6-1 win.

The deciding set developed into a closely contested battle, with neither player managing to establish a decisive advantage. The match eventually went into a tie-break, where the Australian demonstrated remarkable composure to secure the victory.

De Minaur’s aggressive approach and ability to maintain his focus under pressure proved crucial in overcoming the two-time Grand Slam champion.

Speaking after the match, the Australian expressed satisfaction with his performance, saying he was proud of how he handled the occasion and remained committed to playing his own style of tennis.

The victory also strengthened De Minaur’s chances of qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin, as he continued his push for a place among the world’s top eight players.

Meanwhile, Zverev was still set to take over the top position in the ATP men’s rankings on Monday, November 2, replacing Italy’s Jannik Sinner.

De Minaur advanced to the Vienna Open final, where he was scheduled to face Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) in the other semi-final.

The Australian’s victory represented a significant achievement in his season, while Zverev’s defeat demonstrated that his impending rise to the top ranking would not guarantee an easy path to tournament titles.

Novak Djokovic’s hopes of securing a record 19th appearance at the ATP Finals have suffered a major setback following a surprise defeat to Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff at the Swiss Indoors in Basel.

The 39-year-old Serbian suffered a narrow 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 7-6 (5-7) defeat in the second round, ending his eight-match winning streak against Struff, who finally recorded his first victory over the former world number one in nine meetings.

Djokovic had taken the opening set in a tense tie-break but struggled to maintain his advantage as Struff produced an aggressive performance, relying on his powerful serve and attacking play to turn the contest around.

The German, ranked outside the world’s top 20, held his nerve in the deciding set to complete one of the biggest victories of his career.
MyJoyOnline+2

The defeat is particularly damaging to Djokovic’s ambitions of returning to the ATP Finals in Turin, where he hopes to make a record-extending 19th appearance and move ahead of Roger Federer, with whom he is currently tied on 18 appearances.

Djokovic was placed 11th in the qualification standings following the Basel defeat, trailing Spain’s Rafael Jodar by 319 points. The top eight players normally qualify for the season-ending tournament, although the absence of injured world number one Jannik Sinner could affect the final qualification positions.
MyJoyOnline+2

The Serbian’s remaining opportunity to strengthen his qualification chances comes at the Paris Masters, which begins on November 2. A strong performance will be crucial if he hopes to close the points gap and secure a place in Turin.

Despite the disappointment, Djokovic remains determined to compete at the highest level. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has already enjoyed notable moments this season, including a run to the Australian Open final and victory in Beijing.

He will now face another important test as the season approaches its conclusion, with his pursuit of another ATP Finals appearance hanging in the balance.

Kimi Antonelli has made history by becoming the youngest Formula 1 World Champion at just 20 years and 68 days old, after securing the 2026 Drivers’ Championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver clinched his maiden championship on Sunday, November 1, after finishing third in a dramatic race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.

Antonelli entered the race needing only a ninth-place finish to guarantee the championship, regardless of the results of his closest challengers, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes teammate George Russell. However, the Italian exceeded expectations by securing a podium finish.

His achievement ends Sebastian Vettel’s 16-year reign as the youngest Formula 1 world champion. Vettel previously held the record after winning his first title at 23 years and 134 days in 2010.

The 2026 triumph also makes Antonelli the first Italian driver to win the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship since Alberto Ascari achieved the feat in 1953.

The Mexico City Grand Prix was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who finished ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, while Antonelli secured third place to seal the title.

The race was marked by several dramatic moments, including multiple crashes, safety-car interruptions and a 33-minute stoppage following an accident involving Valtteri Bottas.

Antonelli’s championship success comes in only his second season in Formula 1, marking a remarkable rise for the young Italian, who has established himself among the sport’s leading drivers.

With four races remaining in the season, Antonelli has already secured his place in Formula 1 history, delivering a landmark achievement for Mercedes and Italian motorsport.