Bernal faces at least four-match ban as Pellegrini also risks disciplinary action

Facundo Bernal is expected to receive a suspension of at least four matches following his dismissal against Barcelona. Manuel Pellegrini is also at risk of disciplinary action after the tense match, in which Barcelona beat Real Betis 5-2 in Liga to claim its ninth victory and maintain its perfect record in the competition.

Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea’s report states that Bernal headbutted Lamine Yamal twice. The incident took place at La Cartuja after Abdessamad Ezzalzouli scored Betis’s second goal. Earlier, Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Valles had tried to lift Fermín López in a forceful manner while the Barcelona player was on the ground after contact on the ball.

Yamal stepped in to defend his teammate. Bernal grabbed him by the neck and struck him twice in the face with his head, prompting the referee to send him off. The referee’s report says Facundo Bernal Cruz was dismissed in the 54th minute for grabbing an opponent by the neck and delivering two consecutive headbutts to the face while the ball was out of play.

After the match, Bernal apologised to his teammates and Real Betis supporters: « I want to apologise to my teammates and the Real Betis supporters, because I left the team with ten players today. I don’t usually react like that, and I should have controlled myself in that moment. I take responsibility, and it won’t happen again. »

Bernal’s suspension is expected to be at least four matches. Pellegrini’s position remains uncertain: it is yet to be clarified whether he will face disciplinary action over comments about the first-half disallowed goal by Lo Celso and Bernal’s second-half dismissal.

Pellegrini criticised the decisions after the match: « The decisions were incomprehensible; I couldn’t understand them. A goal was disallowed for a handball that Cucho did not commit intentionally, after the ball touched his hand. There was also a push and provocation by Lamine Yamal (in the incident leading to Bernal’s sending-off). These decisions had a very significant impact. »