Jose Mourinho said he has not seen any clear evidence to justify the attention on the Arda Güler elbow incident that drew complaints from Sevilla after Real Madrid‘s 4-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu on Oct. 18. Güler struck Sevilla’s Peque Fernández with an elbow while off the ball after being held back during a Real Madrid counterattack, and VAR conducted a quick check but did not award a red card.
Mourinho’s Comments On The Arda Güler Elbow Incident
Mourinho, speaking after the match, said nobody had provided him with footage showing what happened between Güler and Fernández. “No one has managed to show me what they say happened. I haven’t seen a single image,” Mourinho said, according to the Houston Chronicle.
He added that he would address the play if shown proof before Real Madrid’s next match. “If by Saturday someone sends me a clear and objective image of something I haven’t seen, I’ll address it. For now, nothing,” Mourinho said. He also noted he would speak up if a similar situation had benefited his own team, saying he believes the opposite tends to happen “because it’s the natural trend of things.”
What The Incident Involved
The elbow came during a Real Madrid counterattack when Fernández held Güler back, according to Yahoo Sports. Güler scored Real Madrid’s opening goal shortly after the incident. VAR reviewed the play quickly and officials did not send Güler off, leaving the result on the field unchanged.
Sevilla’s Reaction
Sevilla coach Luis García Plaza questioned the officiating decision after the match and suggested it was tied to Real Madrid’s position in the standings. “Why didn’t the VAR call the referee? Maybe because they don’t go into the clasico nine points behind,” García Plaza said, per the Houston Chronicle. His comments reflect Sevilla’s frustration that no red card was shown, but the quote represents his own interpretation rather than a confirmed explanation for the VAR decision.
Context: A Pattern Of Disputes Over Officiating
The Güler situation arrived a week after Vinícius Júnior was sent off for pulling a Villarreal player’s hair during a match, continuing a stretch of officiating-related controversies around Real Madrid this season. Mourinho’s remarks echo other recent friction between the club and league officials, a dynamic covered in Real Madrid’s demand for Tebas to resign over separate comments. Total Apex Sports has also detailed Vinícius Júnior’s comments on referee protection following his red card the previous week.
No disciplinary action beyond the in-game VAR review has been reported in connection with the Güler incident. The La Liga table now shows Real Madrid six points behind leader Barcelona.
What’s Next
Real Madrid travels to face Barcelona in next week’s Clásico, a match that will determine whether the six-point gap narrows or widens. Mourinho’s stated willingness to revisit the Güler play if shown footage leaves open the possibility of further comment before that fixture, though no specific date for a response has been given.
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