The Controversy Surrounding Camera Angles That Fail to Clarify Arda Güler’s Potential Red Card in Real Madrid vs Sevilla

Despite the extensive camera coverage at the Santiago Bernabéu, no angle clearly showed the incident involving Arda Güler that sparked Sevilla’s protests.

Santiago Bernabéu’s 26 cameras failed to capture a clear image of the controversial contact between Real Madrid’s Arda Güler and Peque Fernández against Sevilla. Should Güler have been sent off?

Real Madrid’s victory over Sevilla was overshadowed by an refereeing controversy that continues to spark debate in LaLiga. An incident involving Arda Güler and Peque Fernández triggered protests from the Andalusian side, which called for the Turkish midfielder to be sent off. However, despite the 26 cameras available at the Santiago Bernabéu, none provided a sufficiently clear image to establish exactly what happened or justify VAR intervention.

AN INCIDENT THAT SPARKED SEVILLA’S PROTESTS

The incident occurred during the first half, when Güler clashed with Peque Fernández in a challenge that Sevilla interpreted as a possible elbow strike. The visiting players demanded a red card, convinced that the contact warranted a more severe punishment.

The incident gained even more attention as the Real Madrid midfielder went on to become one of the talking points of the match. The lack of a conclusive replay left questions unanswered about the nature of the contact, its intensity and the precise point of impact.

Referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer did not show a red card, while the VAR team did not ask him to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.

WHY DID VAR NOT INTERVENE DESPITE THE 26 CAMERAS?

According to a report published by Mundo Deportivo, the Santiago Bernabéu had 26 cameras covering Real Madrid vs. Sevilla, but none provided a clear enough angle to establish unequivocally whether Güler had committed an act of violent conduct.

The explanation lies in the television production. The cameras were primarily following the attacking play, leaving the incident outside the main focus. The available shots were distant, and zooming in did not provide the precision needed to properly assess the contact.

Furthermore, VAR operates using footage from LaLiga’s official television broadcast rather than an independent camera system capable of retrieving every conceivable angle. As a result, having numerous cameras does not guarantee that every incident will be captured conclusively.

CONTROVERSY RENEWS DEBATE OVER TELEVISION COVERAGE

VAR protocol requires sufficient evidence to intervene in cases involving a potential clear and obvious error or serious foul play. Without footage that clearly established what happened, Guillermo Cuadra Fernández, the VAR official, did not recommend that the referee review the incident on the pitchside monitor.

The decision left Sevilla feeling aggrieved, while Real Madrid kept one of its players on the pitch. The incident also raised questions about the ability of television production to capture decisive moments during high-profile matches.

The controversy does not, in itself, prove that Güler should have been sent off. However, it highlights a significant limitation: when the available footage cannot clearly establish what happened, VAR cannot resolve the uncertainty based solely on players’ protests. The debate therefore extends beyond a potential red card to the quality of the images available to match officials.

26 CAMERAS, BUT NO CLEAR FOOTAGE AT THE BERNABÉU!

🎥 INSUFFICIENT FOOTAGE: None of the 26 cameras at the Santiago Bernabéu clearly captured Arda Güler’s controversial incident.
🚨 SEVILLA’S PROTESTS: Peque Fernández was involved in the incident that sparked calls for the Turkish midfielder to be sent off.
⚖️ NO VAR INTERVENTION: The lack of conclusive footage prevented officials from clarifying the contact, fueling criticism of the television production system.