China’s state broadcaster CCTV has refused to air a Real Madrid match despite an apology from French striker Kylian Mbappé over his controversial remarks about the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, according to the BBC on Monday.

The decision came on Sunday as Real Madrid faced Racing Santander in a La Liga fixture, which they won 3-0, with Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande finding the net.

China Media Group (CMG), CCTV’s parent organisation, had announced last Tuesday that it would suspend broadcasts of Spanish La Liga matches following widespread backlash over Mbappé’s comments.

The controversy erupted after the French forward reportedly said during an appearance on French talk show, The Bridge, that the meme that made him laugh the most was one showing his face superimposed on the image of a Chinese dictator resembling Mao.

His remarks sparked anger across China, where Mao remains a highly sensitive historical and political figure.

Mbappé later apologised, admitting that his comments were ill-judged and acknowledging that they had hurt many people in China and Chinese communities around the world.

China’s foreign ministry said it took the apology seriously, while Real Madrid and La Liga also issued apologies over the incident.

CMG had previously demanded apologies from Mbappé, Real Madrid and La Liga, describing them as an absolute prerequisite for resolving the controversy.

Although the broadcaster has acknowledged the apologies, it has yet to announce when La Liga coverage will resume.

The incident has also reportedly led to several Chinese brands dropping Mbappé from their promotional campaigns.

Mao, who founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949 after leading the Communist Party to victory in the civil war, died in 1976. His rule included the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, periods associated with mass famine, political persecution and widespread violence.

China has previously taken similar action against international sports organisations over political controversies.

In October 2019, Chinese broadcasters suspended NBA coverage for about a year after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey expressed support for Hong Kong protesters in a social media post.

Morey later sought to clarify his remarks, saying he had listened to other perspectives and had never intended to offend Chinese fans or sponsors.

The latest dispute highlights the potential commercial consequences international sports figures and organisations can face when their public comments clash with China’s political sensitivities.

Source: punchng.com

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

WHATSAPP CHANNEL

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Barcelona have been handed a €602 fine by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) following a formal complaint from Atlético Madrid about the Catalan club’s handling of interest in striker Julián Álvarez.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano on X on Wednesday, the sanction, confirmed on Tuesday, was imposed under Article 133 of the RFEF’s disciplinary regulations for failure to comply with orders, instructions, agreements or regulatory obligations.

It is classified as a minor infringement. Spanish rules require any club seeking to negotiate with a contracted player to first notify the player’s current club in writing.

Atlético alleged Barcelona approached the Argentina international without properly fulfilling that requirement.

Álvarez, 26, remains under contract at Atlético until June 2030 after joining from Manchester City in 2024.

Interest from Barcelona intensified during the summer transfer window, fuelled in part by the player’s public comments expressing a desire to fulfil a long-held dream of playing for the Blaugrana.

No deal materialised, and Álvarez stayed in Madrid.

Atlético also lodged a parallel complaint with FIFA, which ruled it had no jurisdiction over a dispute between two Spanish clubs and left the matter with the RFEF.

The federation opened an extraordinary disciplinary file in late July and has now resolved it with the maximum fine available under the relevant light-infringement clause.

The amount has been widely described as symbolic or “irrisoria.” It closely mirrors a 2019 case in which Atlético complained about Barcelona’s approach for Antoine Griezmann and the resulting fine was just €300.

Barcelona intend to appeal. Club sources and reports from outlets including Marca and El Chiringuito indicate the decision is being challenged on principle rather than over the modest sum.

Barcelona maintain they informed Atlético of their interest and conducted themselves correctly throughout the process.

Meanwhile Álvarez has been working to repair relations with Atlético supporters.

He has faced some booing this season but scored the decisive goal in Saturday’s win over Deportivo La Coruña, after which he publicly apologised for the timing and manner of his earlier comments about wanting to leave.

The fine closes the formal disciplinary chapter of a tense summer saga between two La Liga rivals, though Barcelona’s planned appeal means the matter is not yet fully settled.

Source: punchng.com

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

WHATSAPP CHANNEL

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

English football has produced some extraordinary giant-killings, with lower-league and non-league clubs shocking established giants in the FA Cup and League Cup.

From Hereford United’s famous victory over Newcastle United to Bradford City’s stunning comeback against Chelsea, these matches have become unforgettable moments in English football history.

Here are 10 of the most memorable cup upsets as reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday

1. Hereford United 2-1 Newcastle United (FA Cup, 1972)
Hereford United produced one of the most iconic giant-killings in FA Cup history by defeating top-flight Newcastle United in a third-round replay. Ronnie Radford’s spectacular long-range equaliser sent the match into extra time before substitute Ricky George scored the winner.

2. Wrexham 2-1 Arsenal (FA Cup, 1992)
Fourth-tier Wrexham stunned reigning league champions Arsenal. After Alan Smith gave the Gunners the lead, Mickey Thomas scored a memorable free-kick before Steve Watkin netted the winner to complete a remarkable comeback.

3. Sutton United 2-1 Coventry City (FA Cup, 1989)
Non-league Sutton United shocked Coventry City, who had won the FA Cup just two years earlier. Matthew Hanlan scored the decisive goal to send Sutton into football folklore.

4. Bradford City 4-2 Chelsea (FA Cup, 2015)
Bradford City produced a stunning comeback at Stamford Bridge after falling 2-0 behind to Chelsea. Goals from Jon Stead, Filipe Morais, Andy Halliday and Mark Yeates turned the tie around and eliminated the Premier League leaders.

5. Bradford City 1-1 Arsenal (3-2 on penalties, League Cup, 2012)
Bradford City, then a fourth-tier club, knocked Arsenal out of the League Cup quarter-finals. Garry Thompson scored for Bradford before Thomas Vermaelen equalised late, but the home side prevailed in the penalty shootout.

6. Oldham Athletic 3-2 Liverpool (FA Cup, 2013)
League One side Oldham Athletic stunned Liverpool despite the visitors featuring stars such as Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge. Matt Smith scored twice, while Reece Wabara added another goal to secure a famous victory.

7. York City 3-0 Manchester United (League Cup, 1995)
York City stunned Manchester United with a commanding first-leg victory at Old Trafford. Paul Barnes scored twice and Tony Barras added a third. Despite United winning the return leg, York progressed 4-3 on aggregate.

8. Northampton Town 2-2 Liverpool (4-2 on penalties, League Cup, 2010)
Northampton Town pulled off a major upset at Anfield, holding Liverpool to a 2-2 draw before winning the penalty shootout. The League Two side demonstrated remarkable composure to eliminate their Premier League opponents.

9. Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Liverpool (FA Cup, 2025)
Plymouth Argyle eliminated Liverpool after Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty secured a narrow victory. The Championship side defended resolutely to knock out a team that would go on to win the Premier League title that season.

10. Grimsby Town 2-2 Manchester United (12-11 on penalties, League Cup, 2025)
Grimsby Town delivered an astonishing upset against Manchester United. The League Two side raced into a 2-0 lead before United fought back to force penalties. After an extraordinary shootout, Grimsby eventually prevailed 12-11.

These historic results demonstrate why the FA Cup and League Cup remain so special.

Smaller clubs can overcome financial disadvantages, league positions and reputations to create unforgettable football moments.

From Hereford’s famous triumph in 1972 to more recent shocks involving Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, English football continues to prove that no favourite is guaranteed victory.

Source: punchng.com

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

WHATSAPP CHANNEL

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM