Opinions, analysis and commentary
Sergio Carranza, who runs editorial production at the league, has conceded that the broadcast unit chose not to show the alleged Guler elbow on Peque again during Madrid’s 4-1 victory on 18 October. That matters because Sevilla’s formal complaint no longer rests only on what VAR officials could see. It now questions what viewers were shown, who decided it, and whether the decision was applied evenly across four disputed moments from the Bernabéu. That shift turns a refereeing grievance into a governance row.
Club chief José María del Nido Carrasco put his name to Sevilla’s formal protest, which relates to four moments from the Bernabéu and claims the broadcast was unevenly applied. The club wants raw footage of every one of those moments, the match’s production plan with camera positions included, and the guidelines that decide which plays are replayed and how highlight packages are assembled.
Sevilla also wants all audiovisual material preserved, and it has asked the league to investigate, pin down who is responsible, and introduce corrective measures. The table below summarises what the club says happened in each case, and it shows how the camera coverage differed from one decision to the next.
| Incident | Player | Sevilla’s Claim | Replays Shown | Outcome |
| Alleged strike | Guler on Peque | Red card | Distant angles, no zoom | Play on; Guler scored soon after |
| Tackle | Cucurella on Peque | Penalty | Limited angles | No penalty |
| Build-up | Konaté on Ure | Foul | Limited angles | Goal stood |
| Penalty | Mbappé | Contrast case | Several angles | Penalty awarded |
Carranza told a radio programme that showing the Guler moment again was a possibility, but the mobile unit made a decision to leave it out. He described that as an editorial call, adding that the crew works free of pressure or instructions. The wording is notable, because it moves the debate from camera limitations toward deliberate choices made inside the production truck.
Twenty-four hours before that, La Liga had insisted it hid nothing, saying its cameras tracked the ball and the attacking move. Sevilla’s statement pushed back against Carranza’s remarks, and no further official reply had surfaced by 21 October. The absence of an answer keeps the pressure on the league.
The referees’ committee, known as the CTA, says the evidence was too thin to establish violent conduct, which is why VAR, led by Cuadra Fernández, never recommended a review. Its sources add that only wide shots caught the moment, taken from behind the goal, a Skycam plus the offside camera, and that no angle settled whether a shoulder, an elbow or a hand made contact.
The committee dismissed any production error and says broadcast and VAR were given identical footage. Del Nido has since met the CTA in talks described as respectful, yet the sides did not agree. One side cites inconclusive images, while the other claims footage was held back, so the dispute turns on a simple question of access.
The row landed amid a wider fight. On 18 October, Real Madrid called for the resignation of Javier Tebas, citing the hostility directed at him inside the Bernabéu after reports that he likened the club’s push against match officials to Nazi-era propaganda.
Fans also displayed a banner linking Tebas with the Negreira affair, and he responded by accusing the club of sliding into manipulation and lies. Mourinho, the Madrid coach, said the fixation with the elbow baffled him, a comment that sits awkwardly beside Sevilla’s detailed demands for evidence and protocols.
Sevilla has not launched legal action. Its request was for the material to be kept intact in case court proceedings become necessary, and a step up looks possible if the league’s answers fall short of what the club expects. A court filing would change the nature of the dispute entirely.
Madrid travel to Camp Nou to face Barcelona at 9 pm CEST on Sunday 25 October, and they sit six points off the pace once the Sevilla result is counted, so the spotlight on officials and the league will stay bright. Until the footage question is answered, the La Liga Sevilla Arda Guler elbow replay dispute will keep following both clubs into the Clasico.
Was leaving the Guler moment out of the broadcast an honest editorial choice or a failure of transparency? Share your view below.
To follow international football action without disruption, fans rely on comprehensive streaming portals. The Sports Live Hub (SLH) platform provides digital access to live coverage across smart TVs, smartphones, and desktop computers.
The hub sports live stream ecosystem on SLH offers centralized access to verified broadcast feeds. Fans tuning into international fixtures through SLH experience low-latency streaming, synchronized audio commentary, and real-time match statistics. The platform delivers a secure digital viewing experience directly to your device.
Through advanced sport hub live streaming architecture, SLH utilizes adaptive bitrate technology to maintain steady video playback regardless of network fluctuations. Whether connected via mobile data or high-speed Wi-Fi, the system automatically adjusts video resolution to prevent buffering, ensuring crisp high-definition visuals throughout the 90 minutes.
For football enthusiasts searching for how to watch Sports live for free, Sports Live Hub (SLH) provides accessible entry pathways alongside official broadcasters. During major international windows, SLH offers promotional trial passes and ad-supported viewing tiers, allowing supporters to watch live sports safely, legally, and without financial commitment.
What is Sevilla’s complaint to La Liga about?
Sevilla alleges unequal broadcast treatment across four incidents in the 4-1 defeat. The club wants raw footage, camera details, and replay protocols released, and all material preserved.
Why did VAR not review the Guler incident?
The CTA says no angle showed whether contact came from a shoulder, elbow or hand. It judged the evidence insufficient for violent conduct, so VAR made no recommendation to review.
Did La Liga admit it hid the footage?
Not exactly, as its production chief said the unit chose not to show it, calling that an editorial decision. Earlier, La Liga had denied hiding any footage from viewers.
Can Sevilla take legal action against La Liga?
It has not filed a claim yet. Sevilla asked for all material to be preserved and says escalation remains possible if the answers it receives are unsatisfactory.
What was the score in Real Madrid against Sevilla?
Real Madrid won 4-1 at the Bernabéu on 18 October 2026. The result left them six points behind the leaders ahead of their Clasico trip to Barcelona.
cricket
football