Real Madrid fans vent fury as Kylian Mbappe and Co join Girona players in 'respect the referee, respect football' gesture after Jude Bellingham controversy

Ahead of Real Madrid and Girona's La Liga game on Sunday, players from both clubs posed with the match officials for a photograph with a sign that read: "Respect the referee. Respect football." The gesture, however, did not go down well with the crowd at Santiago Bernabeu as they whistled and booed to make their feelings clear. The move came after Jude Bellingham was controversially sent off and then handed a two-match ban for dissent after insulting the match official last time out in La Liga.

Luka Modric scored a stunner in the first half and Vincius Jr got back among the goals with a strike late in the match as Los Blancos comfortably beat Girona 2-0 at home to equal league leaders Barcelona's points tally. It was an important win for Carlo Ancelotti's side after the Catalan edged out Las Palmas on Saturday night.

David Alaba's return to action was a huge relief for the Spanish champions as the Austrian centre-back featured in Los Blancos' starting lineup for the first time in the 2024/25 campaign.

Ancelotti's side will be back in action on Wednesday as they take on Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final fixture away from home.