Brazilian soccer star Neymar, 34, of Santos FC, has been slapped with a two-match ban for covering his mouth during a heated exchange with an opponent. This suspension, combined with a previous accumulation of yellow cards, will see him sidelined for a total of three games.
Reuters reported on Thursday that Brazil’s Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) handed down the suspension for Neymar’s violation of the newly implemented Vinicius Rule.
The incident occurred during a Brazilian Serie A home match against Bahia on October 25, when Neymar was seen covering his mouth with his hand while arguing with midfielder Rodrigo Nestor.
The confrontation took place just before halftime when Neymar collided with Nestor. After a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, the referee showed Neymar a red card. The match ultimately ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
The STJD ruled that Neymar’s actions were in direct violation of the Vinicius Rule, which prohibits players from covering their mouths during on-field disputes.
This regulation was introduced following a controversial incident in February during a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League match. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior alleged he was subjected to racist remarks from Benfica’s Gianluca Prestiani.
The controversy stemmed from Prestiani speaking to Vinicius while covering his mouth with his jersey. In response, officials implemented new rules to penalize such behavior during matches.
Reports suggest that Neymar’s frustration continued even after his dismissal from the game.
According to Reuters, the referee’s report detailed that Neymar, post-ejection, attempted to confront Nestor again by charging towards the opposing team’s bench. His teammates had to intervene to prevent further escalation.
Neymar was already set to miss the October 29 clash against Palmeiras due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
With the STJD’s additional two-match ban, he’s now slated to sit out the November 2 game against Bragantino and the November 18 match versus Coritiba.
Barring any successful appeal, Neymar is expected to make his return on November 22 against Grêmio, following the international break. However, both Neymar and Santos FC retain the option to appeal this decision.