Why Arda Guler escaped a red card for alleged elbow before scoring a stunner against Sevilla

Arda Güler's Real Madrid secured a comfortable 4-1 victory over Sevilla at the Bernabeu on Sunday, but the match's early moments were marred by controversy. In the 22nd minute, Güler appeared to elbow Sevilla's Peque during an off-the-ball incident, causing the Sevilla midfielder to go down. Sevilla players immediately surrounded the referee, demanding a red card.

However, the video assistant referee (VAR) was unable to make a decision due to insufficient camera angles and footage. Spanish refereeing analysis explained that the incident was outside the main action, so television cameras were not focused on Güler and Peque. While footage on social media showed Güler extending his arm towards Peque, it did not conclusively establish whether he struck his opponent in the face or with excessive force.

Former Spanish referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez noted that a blow to the face would warrant a red card, while contact with the chest without excessive force might result in only a yellow card. Despite the controversy, Güler escaped punishment and continued playing, scoring the opening goal in a stunning first-time finish. The result was another impressive win for Real Madrid, but the incident remained a talking point.