Neymar’s aspiration to play in the 2026 World Cup is at risk due to his recent comments.
Details: After Santos’ 2-0 win over Remo, the 34-year-old forward made headlines with a controversial interview. He criticized referee Savio Pereira Sampaio, who issued him a yellow card for dissent. According to TalkSport, Neymar might face a 12-match suspension as a result.
The potential punishment stems not only from his complaints about officiating but also from discriminatory remarks.
“Savio is always like that. I think he woke up in a bad mood, as they say, ‘on those days,’ and came to the game like that. You couldn’t even talk to him,” Neymar said, laughing, during a live appearance on SporTV.
These comments have sparked backlash in Brazil, being labeled as sexist and offensive.
The situation is critical: earlier this year, Red Bull Bragantino defender Gustavo Marques received a 12-match ban for making similar sexist remarks towards a female referee. If the federation imposes the same penalty on Neymar, he will miss the remainder of the club season and could face fitness issues before the World Cup squad is announced.
Reminder: Neymar is already expected to miss Santos’ next two matches.