Manuel Pellegrini criticizes referee after Real Betis loss to Barcelona

Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini expressed anger at referee decisions following a 5-2 loss to Barcelona on October 17, 2026. He was particularly upset about Facundo Bernal's red card after a clash with Lamine Yamal, claiming Yamal provoked the incident. Pellegrini felt that the referee's performance negatively affected the match, which saw Barcelona maintain their perfect start to the season and stay at the top of LaLiga standings. Pellegrini's remarks underscore his discontent with officiating and the impact on his team's performance.

• 3:00 AMYahoo Sports — ‘Lamine Yamal provoked him’ – Manuel Pellegrini blasts ‘lamentable’ referee after Barcelona loss