Guler Elbow Storm: Why VAR Did Not Send Off Real Madrid Star Against Sevilla
Guler elbow VAR Sevilla news: One moment in the 24th minute changed the mood of Real Madrid against Sevilla, and it still dominates the debate after the final whistle. The moment was the clash with Peque Fernandez during a Madrid counter-attack at the Bernabeu. Sevilla players said that Arda Guler swung an elbow. The referee did not send off Guler. VAR did not intervene. Six minutes later, Guler scored the opening goal.
The incident has become the main talking point from a match that Madrid won 4-1 on Sunday October 18. Sevilla were furious. Madrid insisted that no clear evidence existed. It is important to state the position clearly. The elbow was not proven as fact by the available replays. The replays did not show clear contact or clear force. Sevilla players said that it was an elbow. The VAR room could not confirm it.
Guler Elbow VAR Sevilla: What Happened
The incident took place in the 24th minute of Real Madrid 4-1 Sevilla at the Bernabeu. Madrid were on a counter-attack, and Peque Fernandez tugged the Guler shirt during the move. Guler then swung an elbow in the direction of Peque. Peque went to the floor, and play stopped.
Referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer took charge on the field. VAR official Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez reviewed the incident from the VAR room. The check lasted almost three minutes.
The outcome was that Guler received no red card and no yellow card. While play was stopped, Dean Huijsen and Felix Correia were booked for squaring up. The bookings became part of the Sevilla complaint after the match.
Six minutes later, in the 30th minute, Guler opened the scoring. The goal gave Madrid a 1-0 lead. Sevilla were furious that a player involved in the incident had then scored the opening goal.
Key Moments From the Shirt Tug to the VAR Check and the Restart With No Card for Guler
The first key moment was the shirt tug. Peque tugged the Guler shirt during a Madrid counter-attack. What followed turned a small foul into a major controversy.
The second key moment was the swing of the elbow. Sevilla players said that Guler swung an elbow toward Peque. Peque went to the floor. The players believed that the action deserved a red card. The replays did not give the officials a clear view of contact.
The third key moment was the VAR check. Specialist site Archivo VAR reported that the VAR room spent two minutes and 20 seconds working through every available camera angle and still could not intervene. No shot clearly showed where the elbow made contact or how much force was behind it. The VAR room can only step in when a player deserves to be dismissed.
The fourth key moment was the restart. Play resumed with no card for Guler. Huijsen and Felix were booked for squaring up. The fifth key moment was the opening goal. In the 30th minute, Guler opened the scoring and set Madrid on the way to a 4-1 win.
Background and Context on Madrid Refereeing Complaints Before the Guler Elbow VAR Sevilla Incident
The incident did not take place in isolation. Madrid had complained about refereeing in the previous two rounds. In the Madrid derby against Atletico, a strong challenge by Kang-in Lee on Federico Valverde went unpunished. In the same match, Dean Huijsen had been sent off for bringing down Giuliano Simeone in the penalty area shortly after half time, and Madrid lost the derby.
The previous weekend against Villarreal had brought more refereeing drama. Vinicius Junior was sent off for grabbing an opponent hair. The dismissal brought a four-match ban that rules Vinicius out of El Clasico. Madrid were without Vinicius against Sevilla.
Madrid won 4-1 and moved to third with 21 points, six behind Barcelona. El Clasico is on October 25 at Camp Nou. Sevilla coach Luis Garcia and Sevilla players complained publicly after the match.
The Sevilla official X account posted that the clear use of the elbow by Guler against Peque ended with yellow cards for Huijsen and Felix. Sevilla believed that Guler should have been punished. Archivo VAR gave referee Busquets Ferrer 6 out of 10 for the match.
What the Guler Elbow VAR Decision Means for the Refereeing Debate and VAR Replay Quality
The decision means that Guler stayed on the field and then scored the opening goal. Madrid went on to win 4-1 and moved to third with 21 points. If Guler had been sent off in the 24th minute, the match could have taken a very different course.
The decision also means that the refereeing debate in LaLiga has intensified. Madrid had complained about refereeing in the previous two rounds. Sevilla have now complained after this match. The row shows how quickly a single incident can dominate the coverage of a match.
The incident also means that the quality of VAR replays has come under scrutiny. Refereeing expert Iturralde Gonzalez, speaking to newspaper AS and radio station Cadena SER, said, “It seems there is something there, but there was no clear replay to determine it.” Iturralde Gonzalez added that he could see Guler extending an arm, but the replay did not show contact with the face because the replay quality was very poor. He added that the quality of the replay should not be so poor if LaLiga is the best league in the world.
The Mourinho response also matters. Mourinho said after the match, “Arda told me he did not elbow him.” Mourinho added that if someone showed him actual footage of Guler doing this by the next La Liga press conference on Saturday, then he would say it was a red card, and he had no problem with that. Mourinho also said that so far he had yet to see it anywhere, that he had asked to see it, and that he had yet to see any clear footage of what Sevilla were talking about.
What Next for Guler and Real Madrid With El Clasico at Camp Nou on October 25
The next step is El Clasico. Barcelona host Real Madrid at Camp Nou on October 25. Guler will be available, because no punishment was given.
The league will also face questions about VAR replays. Iturralde Gonzalez said that the quality of the replay should not be like this if LaLiga is the best league in the world. Mourinho set a clear test. Mourinho said that the next La Liga press conference is on Saturday, and that if someone shows him actual footage of Guler doing this, then he would say it was a red card. So far, no clear footage has emerged.
The case shows the limits of VAR when the replays do not give a clear view.
Key Facts on the Guler Elbow Incident, VAR Check and Real Madrid 4-1 Sevilla Result
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fixture | Real Madrid 4-1 Sevilla |
| Date | Sunday October 18, Bernabeu |
| Incident minute | 24th minute |
| Incident | Peque tugged the Guler shirt, Guler swung an elbow, Peque went to the floor |
| Referee | Mateo Busquets Ferrer |
| VAR official | Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez |
| VAR check length | Almost three minutes, two minutes and 20 seconds per Archivo VAR |
| Outcome for Guler | No red card and no yellow card |
| Other bookings | Dean Huijsen and Felix Correia booked for squaring up |
| Next action | Guler scored the opening goal in the 30th minute |
| Referee mark | Archivo VAR gave Busquets Ferrer 6 out of 10 |
| Next for Madrid | El Clasico at Camp Nou on October 25 |
Conclusion on the 24th Minute Incident That Defined Real Madrid Against Sevilla
The incident in the 24th minute will be remembered as the defining moment of Real Madrid against Sevilla, even though Madrid won 4-1. Sevilla players said that Guler swung an elbow, and the VAR room could not confirm it.
Why was Guler not sent off against Sevilla?
Guler was not sent off because the VAR room could not confirm a dismissal. Archivo VAR reported that the VAR room spent two minutes and 20 seconds working through every available camera angle and still could not intervene. The VAR room can only step in when a player deserves to be dismissed.
What did Mourinho say about the incident?
Mourinho said, “Arda told me he did not elbow him.” Mourinho also said that if someone showed him actual footage of Guler doing this by the next La Liga press conference on Saturday, then he would say it was a red card, and he had no problem with that. Mourinho added that he would have no problem acknowledging a decision that favoured his side if he believed it was wrong.
What did Sevilla say after the match?
Sevilla coach Luis Garcia and Sevilla players complained publicly after the match. The Sevilla official X account posted that the clear use of the elbow by Guler against Peque ended with yellow cards for Huijsen and Felix. Sevilla believed that Guler should have been punished.
What did the refereeing expert say about the VAR replays?
Refereeing expert Iturralde Gonzalez, speaking to newspaper AS and radio station Cadena SER, said, “It seems there is something there, but there was no clear replay to determine it.” Iturralde Gonzalez added that he could see Guler extending an arm, but the replay did not show contact with the face because the replay quality was very poor. He added that the quality of the replay should not be so poor if LaLiga is the best league in the world.
