A simple gesture of covering the mouth during an on-field argument has cost Santos captain Neymar a two-match suspension, according to the Express Tribune. The 34-year-old was penalised following a 1-1 Brazilian Serie A draw with Bahia, where an altercation with midfielder Rodrigo Nestor led to his sending-off.
According to the Express Tribune, Brazil's Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) found Neymar guilty of violating the Vinicius Jr. rule, which explicitly forbids players from covering their mouths during on-field confrontations. The tribunal noted in the referee's report that after being sent off, Neymar ran towards the visitors' bench to confront his opponent and required restraint from his teammates.
Background
According to the Express Tribune report, the suspension means Neymar will miss Santos' next three matches. He was already ruled out for a league game against Palmeiras after accumulating three yellow cards, and will now serve two additional matches for the protocol violation. This latest disciplinary action arrives three months after he became the first player in Brazil's top flight to be temporarily removed under a new trial rule aimed at curbing time-wasting by goalkeepers.
What's next
According to the Express Tribune, Neymar and Santos retain the right to appeal the ruling regarding the protocol violation. The former Brazil captain is not expected to return to competitive action until late November.