Sevilla boss Luis Garcia Plaza claimed Arda Guler escaped a red card last night because La Liga wanted Real Madrid to win to close the gap on Barcelona before next week’s Clasico.

Garcia Plaza’s side lost 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu – a result that enabled Madrid to move within six points of Barca – but the match was shrouded in controversy with Guler escaping what seemed an obvious red card for elbowing Peque Fernandez as the pair jostled midway through the first half.

Referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer did not see the incident while VAR Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez opted against taking any action. The flashpoint caused a melee in which Madrid’s Dean Huijsen and Sevilla captain Felix Correia were both booked.

Real Madrid benefit from lax refereeing

To make matters worse for Sevilla, Guler then scored the opener for Madrid shortly afterwards and from there the home side cruised with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice and Yan Diomande adding another. Manu Bueno pulled one back for the visitors but they felt a clear sense of injustice after the game.

Garcia Plaza said: “A game is 11 against 11, but we have been deprived of playing 11 against 10. In the league sometimes you play games with a greater or lesser number and today it was our turn to play with more.

“We have to play 11 against 10 from the 25th minute. It’s incredible. It’s the summary of the game, we don’t know what would have happened.”

García Plaza claims Clasico considerations influenced decision-making

Asked why the VAR had not intervened, Garcia Plaza added: “I don’t know. Maybe because they [Madrid] would go nine points behind Barca ahead of the Clasico if we win? You should talk to the VAR more than the referee, who may not have seen it. With Barça, Madrid and Atlético there are many more cameras on the field, hence for me it is one more VAR view. It’s a very clear foul.”

Sevilla’s complaints came just 24 hours after Real Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini outlined his frustrations at what he perceived as a number of decisions that went in favour of Barcelona on Saturday night as the league leaders won 5-2 at La Cartuja.

And while Madrid and Barca frequently engage in verbal sparring regarding the standard of refereeing in Spain, Garcia Plaza highlighted the fact that, in his opinion, they are among the two clubs that benefit most.

He said: ”Those who complain the most are the ones who have the least to complain about: Madrid, Barça and Atlético. I’ve been in this for a long time and it’s always the same story.”