Real Betis midfielder Facundo Bernal has been banned for four matches by the Spanish federation’s disciplinary committee after he grabbed Lamine Yamal by the neck and headbutted him twice during Barcelona’s 5-2 win. Betis sporting director Manu Fajardo has also been suspended for two games and fined.
Seville, Spain: The punishment for a violent flashpoint in La Liga has now been handed down. Facundo Bernal will miss four matches after the Spanish football federation’s disciplinary committee ruled on Wednesday that his attack on Lamine Yamal during Barcelona’s win at La Cartuja warranted the minimum sanction available.
What happened at La Cartuja
The incident came on Saturday in the 54th minute, moments after Betis had pulled a goal back to trail 3-2. The referee’s report said Bernal grabbed Yamal by the neck and then headbutted him twice while the ball was out of play. Bernal was shown a straight red card and Yamal was booked for pushing him beforehand. Yamal did not need treatment and played on, and Barcelona added two more goals against ten men to win 5-2. Our match report has the full account.
The ruling
The committee handed Bernal a four-match suspension, the lowest penalty in the four-to-12-match range the disciplinary code sets for violent conduct of this kind. His absence covers league games that include Celta Vigo, Málaga and Elche.
The committee also acted against the club’s hierarchy. Betis sporting director Manu Fajardo was suspended for two matches and fined for conduct contrary to good sporting order.
A hard week for Betis
The punishment arrived on the same day Betis beat Feyenoord 1-0 in the Champions League, a result that came from Isco’s penalty at La Cartuja. It was a night of contrasts for a club that now faces a run of domestic games without one of its midfielders.
Bernal is due to serve the four-match ban in the coming league fixtures.
