Sevilla defender Juan Iglesias expressed severe frustration over the refereeing following his side’s 4-1 defeat to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, pointing directly to a first-half incident involving Arda Güler and teammate Peque.
The fixture at the Bernabéu saw tensions flare around multiple officiating decisions. According to ABC, referee Busquets Ferrer and his officiating team faced intense scrutiny from the visiting squad as the match concluded. Iglesias did not hold back when assessing how the ninety minutes unfolded on the pitch.
The First-Half Incident Involving Arda Güler and Peque
The central grievance for Sevilla centered on an off-the-ball challenge during the opening period. SPORT noted that sevillismo erupted after what they viewed as a clear red card pardoned for a challenge by Arda Güler on Peque. The Turkish midfielder caught Peque with an elbow in an action far from the ball, though the VAR did not prompt Busquets Ferrer to review the monitor due to a lack of close-up camera angles at the time.
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Iglesias confirmed that the squad examined the footage during the interval. “It was an aggression against Peque in the first half.”
As reported by SPORT, Salas remarked that while Sevilla had the match under control, that specific unpunished elbow altered the dynamic. “Peque says he gave him an elbow and he’s not going to throw himself to the ground and ask for assistance; I trust my player,” Salas said.
Disputed Goals and Match-Deciding Details
Beyond the first-half flashpoint, Iglesias pointed to the build-up of Real Madrid’s second goal as another turning point. Diario de Sevilla detailed that the right-back protested a foul on Robbie Ure immediately preceding Kylian Mbappé’s strike, noting that television broadcasters reportedly declined to replay the sequence.
“We were in the match, we tried, it was decided by decisions that were made,” Iglesias told broadcasters, as recorded by Diario de Sevilla. “In the 2-0 there is a prior foul on Robbie that they didn’t even replay on television, we’ve been told.”
Frustrations Over Communication With Match Officials
Iglesias also criticized the barriers players face when attempting to address referees during high-stakes league fixtures. ABC documented his complaints regarding the perceived impossibility of dialogue on the pitch.
“Many times you cannot talk to the referees, they do not allow it,” Iglesias explained, according to ABC’s coverage. “They tell you to go away or they will card you. Why are you going to go over? To earn a yellow card?”
Resignation and the Reality of Playing at the Bernabéu
Concluding his post-match assessment, the defender acknowledged that his team understood the external challenges awaiting them in the capital. While admitting that Sevilla needed to perform self-evaluation, he maintained that critical calls consistently fell against them.
“We knew what we were coming to, we make self-criticism, but there have been decisions that have not fallen on our side,” Iglesias summarized, via Diario de Sevilla, adding that the team was fully aware of what to expect upon entering the stadium.
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