Spanish reports cite unclear footage behind VAR non-intervention in Guler incident

Video officials in Real Madrid’s match against Sevilla lacked clear enough footage of the incident involving Arda Guler and Peque to recommend an on-field review, Cadena SER and AS reported, citing refereeing sources.

In the 24th minute on October 18, Guler moved his elbow toward his opponent away from the ball. Peque went to ground and Sevilla players called for the Real Madrid midfielder to be sent off. Referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer took no action against him.

VAR Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez checked the incident but did not invite the referee to the monitor. Guler opened the scoring shortly afterward, and Madrid won the ninth-round Spanish league match 4:1.

Sevilla coach Luis Garcia Plaza said his side should have played with a numerical advantage for more than an hour. He considered Guler’s actions worthy of a red card and criticized the lack of VAR intervention.

According to the referees’ committee explanation given to Cadena SER, video officials receive the same images used for the television broadcast. Footage from the 26 cameras at the Bernabeu did not clearly establish the point of possible contact.

AS sources said the wide shots could not reliably show which part of Guler’s arm might have struck Peque or where contact occurred. For the same reason, had the referee shown a red card himself, the VAR would have struggled to recommend overturning it.