Real Betis midfielder handed hefty four-match ban after clash with Lamine Yamal

The Royal Spanish Football Federation's (RFEF) Disciplinary Committee has handed Real Betis midfielder Facundo Bernal a four-match ban following an altercation with Lamine Yamal during last Sunday's clash against Barcelona. The Uruguayan confronted the Catalan wonderkid immediately after Barca made it 3-2, with the referee deeming his actions violent conduct and showing him a straight red card.

As a result of the suspension, Bernal will miss the upcoming Copa del Rey fixture as well as league matches leading up to the Seville derby.

He is not the only one facing disciplinary action in the Andalusian camp. Sporting director Manu Fajardo has been handed a two-match ban for breaching sporting conduct, while manager Manuel Pellegrini was issued an official warning over his post-match remarks regarding the refereeing.

Betis have confirmed they will lodge an appeal with the Appeals Committee in an effort to reduce the midfielder's suspension. The Heliopolis outfit believe the punishment is excessive and disproportionate to what actually occurred on the pitch during a match filled with refereeing controversy.

Pellegrini himself voiced his frustration after the final whistle over Bernal's dismissal, arguing that the incident warranted no more than a yellow card for both the Uruguayan and Lamine Yamal. Bernal has since issued a public apology on social media for his actions, which Betis had hoped would be factored in by the Disciplinary Committee as a mitigating circumstance.