Jamie Carragher has called out the Manchester City fans for the banner displayed at the Etihad Stadium before their 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid.

Supporters in the south stand held up a giant banner showing Rodri kissing the Ballon d'Or trophy after receiving the award last year. Next to that image was the phrase "Stop Crying Your Heart Out", taken from the classic Oasis song.

The display made fun of Madrid over their boycott of the ceremony last December after learning Vinicius Jr would not win the award. City fans also jeered the Madrid forward throughout the game, but the 24-year-old ultimately assisted two goals to complete their late comeback and won the Player of the Match award afterwards.

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Following the full-time whistle, Carragher shared a photo of the banner on X, formerly Twitter, captioning the post: "Let's wind Real Madrid up, even though we've still got to go to the Bernabeu next week." The pundit then expanded on those comments during CBS' post-match coverage.

"It's absolutely ridiculous," Carragher said. "Why would you do that? I know they're having a laugh and a joke. What do you gain from that? Even if it's the fans."

Micah Richards, in response, defended it as a "bit of banter with the fans". Carragher, though, continued to question the move: "Why? Why annoy people? Why wind someone up?

"Do it at the end of the game if you've beaten them and knocked them out. Why are you getting involved in that? I don't know what you get out of it. What do you gain out of that?"

Richards reiterated: "It's a bit of fun between the fans," to which Carragher's riposte was: "It's not funny tonight, is it? That'll be all over the Madrid press. You've just got beat."