Neymar could be out for the rest of Santos' season. The 34-year-old has been reported to Brazil's Sports Tribunal for an alleged breach of the so-called "Vinicius Junior rule", and the punishment on the table is a six-match suspension. With six league games left, that would cover the whole of the Brazilian Championship run-in.
What happened against Bahia
The trouble came in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Bahia. Neymar was sent off after an angry exchange with Bahia midfielder Rodrigo Nestor, during which he covered his mouth with his hand while arguing. Bahia then issued a strong statement condemning what it called verbal abuse directed at its player, and the matter went from a red card to a disciplinary case.
Goal reports that Neymar is accused of breaching what it calls the "Vinicius Junior rule". Citing ESPN, it says he has been reported to the tribunal and could face a six-match ban.
Two versions of the same argument
Nestor did not hold back after the final whistle. "What he said to me was highly disrespectful - both toward me and toward the Bahia jersey," the midfielder said. Neymar has strongly denied the accusation. He accepts that covering his mouth was a mistake, but says he made no direct comment to Nestor and accuses the Bahia player of starting the confrontation, claiming his rival used "one of the dirtiest tricks in football".
The allegations are only that for now. The tribunal will decide what was said and whether the rule was broken, and nothing about the incident has been proven.
What it would mean for Santos
The hearing is on Wednesday. If the maximum punishment is handed out, Neymar will miss the entire final stretch of the season, and Santos would lose their most recognisable player for it. They are eighth in the table with six games remaining, and after narrowly avoiding relegation last term they currently have a comfortable 12-point cushion above the drop zone.
That buffer means the risk to Santos is limited, and the result is unlikely to change their finish by much. For Neymar, though, a long ban this late in the season is a bigger issue, and the outcome of Wednesday's hearing will say a lot about how seriously the tribunal is taking the rule.
Disciplinary context: Neymar, 34, was sent off in Santos' 1-1 draw with Bahia. He faces a possible six-match ban, with a tribunal hearing on Wednesday. Santos are eighth with six league games left and 12 points above the relegation zone. Source: Goal, citing ESPN.
0 Comments