Neymar's Erroneous Substitution in Santos Match Sparks World Cup Roster Doubts
A mistaken substitution incident occurred during the Santos vs. Coritiba match in the Brazil Cup, leading to star player Neymar leaving the field in the 65th minute. The error stemmed from the fourth official, who displayed the board indicating the departure of jersey number 10 instead of defender Gonzalo Escobar, who wears number 31. This change was not planned by coach Cuca for the team captain in a match that Santos ultimately lost 3-0.
This administrative blunder led to arguments on the touchline as Neymar and his coach attempted to clarify the error to the officiating crew. However, referee Paulo Cesar Zanovelli issued a yellow card to Neymar for allegedly refusing to accept the substitution. In a visibly angry reaction, the 34-year-old player snatched the substitution paper from the officials' hands and displayed it to television cameras to prove the mistake before being replaced by Robinho Junior. Neymar commented on the incident, stating: "I didn't know I was being substituted, I didn't see the board. It was a huge mistake by the officials and the person putting the numbers on the board."
This incident comes at a sensitive time for the Santos forward, as the match on May 17, 2026, was his final opportunity to prove his readiness just one day before Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti was set to announce the national team's World Cup squad. Although Neymar was receiving medical treatment for his right calf muscle at the moment of the substitution, coach Cuca downplayed the incident's impact on the result. Cuca stated: "It is indeed a mistake by the fourth official, but it was not the reason for our defeat, and it would be unfair to blame this situation."
Santos FC confirmed the error in an official statement, describing it as an "unexplainable error" that was not corrected by the officiating crew. The club further clarified that television coverage and official referee notes substantiated the misunderstanding regarding the player, who has been facing fitness challenges since sustaining an ACL tear in October 2023. Through this clarification, the club indicated that the error was not rectified despite attempts by the technical staff to alert officials during the course of the match.
