Neymar is in trouble after giving in to his baser instincts, instead of talking with his talent.
Neymar was shown a red card for a petulant display of poor sportsmanship Wednesday night following Brazil’s 1-0 loss to Colombia in Copa America 2015. Neymar’s offense sparked a melee after the final whistle and could earn the Brazil star a ban from international play.
Neymar started the fracas by booting the ball into the back of Colombian defender Pablo Armero, who was very close to him at the time. Colombia’s players swarmed Neymar, and he then appeared to headbutt Colombia forward Jeison Murillo. Colombia’s Carlos Bacca immediately shoved Neymar from behind, earning himself a red card.
Neymar’s and Bacca’s red cards are uncharacteristic of their normal behavior.
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COMNEBOL, the South American confederation, will hold a tribunal Thursday to determine how to sanction Neymar. He will serve an automatic two-game ban for his offenses (two yellow cards plus a red card), ruling him out of Brazil-Venezuela on Friday and the quarterfinal — should Brazil advance that far. COMNEBOL could ban Neymar further, putting his tournament participation in jeopardy.
The post-game melee partly overshadowed Colombia’s first win over Brazil in 24 years.
Thumbnail photo via Ricardo Mazalan/The Associated Press
