Ref turns blind eye to Mbappé abuse at Mestalla as Madrid star confronts officials

Despite clear evidence of abusive chants directed at Kylian Mbappé from sections of the Mestalla crowd, referee Mario Melero López failed to acknowledge the incident in his official match report.

Blind eye to abuse

Footage captured by Movistar Plus+ Deportes clearly shows a portion of Valencia supporters directing offensive chants at the French superstar during Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory. The referee’s report, however, simply stated “Public: normal” – a proper head-scratcher given what transpired.

Juan Castaño, commenting on the broadcast, pointed out that Mbappé hadn’t provoked the crowd in any way, making the abuse all the more unwarranted.

Tunnel tension

The evening’s drama wasn’t limited to fan behaviour. DAZN cameras caught a heated exchange between Mbappé and the fourth official following a contentious offside decision:

• Mbappé initially requested an explanation on the pitch
• The official suggested they discuss it in the tunnel
• Once inside, the official appeared to avoid the conversation
• A visibly frustrated Mbappé was seen discussing the incident with teammate Eduardo Camavinga

“Tú me dices de hablar dentro, estoy dentro. ¿Por qué no hablas?” Mbappé was heard saying – essentially questioning why the official wouldn’t speak with him after suggesting they continue their conversation in the tunnel.

Madrid maintain momentum

Despite these distractions, Los Blancos handled their business on the pitch with the 2-0 result. The win keeps Carlo Ancelotti’s men in the box seat at the top of La Liga, though the post-match talking points focused more on what happened off the pitch than on it.

The failure to officially record these incidents raises serious questions about accountability and the protection of players from discriminatory abuse – something Spanish football has struggled with in recent seasons. Bit of a liberty if you ask me, especially when the evidence is clear as day on the telly.