The Uruguayan midfielder was dismissed in the 54th minute after an altercation with the Barcelona forward at La Cartuja. According to referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea’s report, Bernal grabbed Yamal by the neck and struck him twice in the face with his head while the ball was out of play.
The incident followed a confrontation involving Barcelona midfielder Fermín López, who was on the ground shortly before Ez Abde scored for Betis. Several home players, including goalkeeper Álvaro Valles, went over to help López to his feet. Yamal then approached to defend his teammate, leading to the clash with Bernal.
The referee sent Bernal off and cautioned Yamal. The Barcelona forward did not require medical treatment and was able to continue.
Bernal acknowledged his mistake in a message posted on social media after the match.
“I want to apologise to my teammates and the Real Betis fans for leaving the team with one player fewer today. I don’t usually react like that and I should have controlled myself in that incident. I accept responsibility and it won’t happen again,” he wrote.
The dismissal came at a damaging point in the game. Betis had reduced Barcelona’s lead to 3-2 through Abde, but were left with ten men for the remainder of the contest. Eric García scored for the visitors in the 62nd minute before Dani Olmo added a fifth in the 81st.
Betis defender Héctor Bellerín had already indicated after the match that Bernal had apologised to the dressing room. He also stressed the importance of the squad dealing with the incident together rather than allowing it to overshadow their campaign.
“In the dressing room there is complete trust to tell each other the good and bad things. We all make mistakes,” Bellerín said. “We have to go out and put it right in the next match, with a cool head and showing the ambition, energy and desire this team has.”
Bellerín added that Betis needed to remain united and ensure the defeat did not define the work they had done so far this season.
Barcelona ultimately won 5-2, maintaining their perfect league record with a ninth victory from nine matches. The result also left Betis to reflect on a contest in which their comeback hopes were severely damaged by Bernal’s dismissal.