Neymar is keen to join Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for this summer’s World Cup, but his suspension could end that possibility.
Neymar suspended for his post-match comments (Image: Marco Buenavista/Getty Images)
Neymar’s chances of being selected for Brazil’s squad for this summer’s World Cup, already slim, could be wiped out by his suspension. The 34-year-old forward may have gotten himself into trouble with his offensive comments about referees.
Neymar has not played for his country since October 2023 and has not been included in Carlo Ancelotti’s latest squad. However, the former Barcelona star is not giving up on competing in June’s World Cup.
After years of injury problems in Saudi Arabia, he returns to his home country to play for his boyhood club Santos, hoping to rediscover his best form. But he’s now nervously awaiting backlash for his recent postgame comments.
Neymar will be suspended for the next game against Flamengo after picking up his third yellow card in four games and clashing with referee Savio Pereira Sampaio. Santos won the match against Remo 2-0, but Neymar was still furious about receiving a yellow in front of the media after the match.
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“It’s very unfair that I got fouled from behind,” he began. “That’s very disingenuous. There was no need for it, it was at the end of the game. And it wasn’t the first time, it wasn’t the third or fourth time, so I just went to complain to him and was booked right away.”
“Anyway, Savio always feels like that. I think he woke up… (lol) What can I say… I woke up with my period and went straight to the match today.”
He added: “He’s the type of referee who wants to be the star of the game, and he has a serious lack of respect for all the players. It wasn’t just for me, it was the same for the Remo players. He doesn’t want to talk, he doesn’t want to have a conversation. He’s the type of referee that wants to be the star of the game.”
“This has to improve. He is the guy who is in charge of the game and has to direct everything. And just like in football, sometimes he complains. You wonder why. He needs to know how to deal with it. If he deals with it like that, it’s very unpleasant and very rude.”
Neymar made offensive remarks towards the referee (Image: X)
Neymar could receive a 12-game suspension, as there is precedent for such a punishment in Brazilian football. Red Bull Bragantino defender Gustavo Marquez has been suspended for 12 games for making sexist comments about female referee Diane Muniz.
“I don’t think the FPF (São Paulo Football Federation) should consider a match of this size and appoint a female referee,” coach Marquez said.
“I respect women all over the world. I’m married and I’m a mother. I’m sorry if I say anything bad about a woman, but I don’t think she’s capable of officiating this game.”
Neymar is unlikely to be selected for the Brazil World Cup (Image: Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)
Mr. Marquez later apologized, but authorities downplayed his sexist comments. “I’m here to apologize once again to women around the world and here in Brazil,” he said.
“I said something about Diane in that moment that I shouldn’t have said. Then I went to apologize to her and apologized to her assistant as well. So I’m here again to apologize to women all over the world, and there are a lot of women here.”
“I hope they can forgive me for what I said. I’m upset and sad. I’ve already been scolded by my wife and mother. So I’m here to say I’m sorry. I’m a man, I’m human, and humans make mistakes.”
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