Neymar could be banned for up to six matches after being reported to Brazil’s Sports Tribunal over an incident during Santos’ Brazilian Championship victory against Bahia.
The 34-year-old forward was dismissed in Santos’ 1-0 win on Saturday after covering his mouth with his hand while arguing with Bahia midfielder Rodrigo Nestor.
The gesture led to allegations that Neymar had used verbal abuse during the confrontation. Bahia condemned the forward’s alleged conduct, while Nestor said the comments directed at him were “highly disrespectful--both toward me and toward the Bahia jersey.”
Neymar acknowledged that covering his mouth was wrong but denied saying anything to Nestor. Instead, he accused the Bahia midfielder of using “one of the dirtiest tricks in football.”
The case is linked to the so-called ‘Vinicius Junior rule’, which has been associated with attempts to address players covering their mouths during confrontations where abusive or discriminatory language may have been used.
A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, when the tribunal is expected to examine the case against the Brazilian international. Its decision will determine whether Neymar receives any further punishment in addition to the red card he was shown during the match.
If the maximum six-match suspension is imposed, Neymar would miss Santos’ remaining fixtures in the Brazilian Championship.
Santos await disciplinary decision
The potential ban comes as Santos enter the closing stages of their league campaign. The club are eighth in the standings, 12 points clear of the relegation zone, with six matches remaining.
Santos narrowly avoided relegation last season, meaning their current league position represents a significant improvement. However, losing Neymar for the final part of the campaign could affect the club’s plans for those remaining games.
The tribunal hearing will therefore be important for both the player and Santos. A suspension lasting six matches would prevent Neymar from returning before the season ends, while a lesser punishment could allow him to feature again during the run-in.
The dispute began with the exchange between Neymar and Nestor, but the two players have given different accounts of what happened.
Bahia accused Neymar of directing verbal abuse at their midfielder after the forward was sent off. Nestor later spoke publicly about the incident and made clear his anger at what he alleged had been said.
Neymar, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward, has rejected that allegation and said he did not make any comment towards Nestor.
The tribunal will now assess the incident and decide whether the confrontation breached the rule associated with players covering their mouths. Until that decision is made, Neymar’s availability for Santos’ final six Brazilian Championship matches remains uncertain.