Neymar Faces Up to 12-Match Ban Over Referee Comments
Brazilian star Neymar's hopes of participating in the World Cup could suffer a significant blow as he faces a potential suspension of up to 12 matches, according to reports from "The Sun." The 34-year-old Santos player dreams of competing in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, despite recent struggles with declining form and frequent injuries. His already slim chances, further diminished after being excluded from coach Carlo Ancelotti's squad during the last international break, could now completely vanish.
The crisis stems from comments Neymar made last Friday, in which he criticized referee Savio Pereira Sampaio after receiving his third yellow card in four matches.
These remarks followed Santos' 2-0 victory over Remo, which marked the team's second win of the season in the Brazilian League after nine games. However, Neymar was dissatisfied with the officiating, complaining about the referee's decision after he was fouled by Diego Hernandez, which resulted in him receiving a booking.
While this yellow card will see him miss the upcoming match against Flamengo, his post-match comments could incur a more severe penalty, especially given similar precedents where other players have been punished.
After the match, Neymar stated: "It always happens, this is unfair. I was fouled unnecessarily from behind at the end of the game, and this wasn't the first time, but the third or fourth. I just went to protest and told him: Are you crazy? And yet I got a yellow card."
He added: "You can't even talk to him; he ignores you and turns his back on you."
Some of his statements have sparked widespread controversy, with many considering them offensive, although some have suggested they might have been misunderstood due to translation issues.
The player has not issued any additional comments since the end of the match, but he continued to criticize the referee, saying: "He is the type of referee who wants to be the star of the game and shows great disrespect to the players. It wasn't just with me, but with Remo players too. He doesn't want to talk or have a dialogue."
He concluded: "This situation must improve. The referee is responsible for managing the match and must know how to deal with player protests, because what is happening now makes the atmosphere uncomfortable and disrespectful."
It is worth noting that Neymar has not featured for the Brazilian national team since October 2023, while coach Carlo Ancelotti previously affirmed that the player could be part of the World Cup squad if he fully regains his fitness.
