Neymar was booked for the third time in four games during Santos’ 2-0 win over Remo
Neymar Jr has found himself in trouble after making a contentious remark that a referee “woke up on his period” following a booking during a match. The Brazil star featured in Santos’ 2-0 triumph over Remo on Thursday evening but struggled towards the end of the game.
In the 86th minute, Neymar was brought down by Diego Hernandez and approached referee Savio Pereira Sampaio to voice his grievances. For his troubles, the 34-year-old collected his third yellow card in four matches, ruling him out of the upcoming fixture against Flamengo.
However, it wasn’t this incident that captured public interest, but his reaction to the caution afterwards. During a post-match interview, Neymar’s comments left viewers astonished as he said: “It’s very unfair because I was fouled from behind.
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“It’s very disloyal – there was no need, it was at the end of the game. And it wasn’t the first time, the third or fourth, so I only went over to complain to him and I was booked straight away.
“Anyway, Savio is always like that. I think he woke up… [laughs] how do you say it… Woke up on his period and came to the game like that today.”
Numerous people deemed the striker’s comments offensive, with viewers flocking to social media to express their views on his response. One wrote: “Well that’s very rude and unprofessional from him, at his level, he’s not expected to say all that.” Another added: “Disrespectful, then wants World Cup… boy is finished.”
A third said: “Talking like that to referees can get you suspended,” while another noted: “Neymar is finished bro.”
Neymar has yet to respond to the criticism he has encountered following these remarks. There is also a possibility of retrospective punishment for the Brazilian, after an earlier suspension for another player.
Red Bull Bragantino defender Gustavo Marques was slapped with a 12-match ban by football authorities for making sexist remarks against a female referee. Following defeat to Sao Paulo, Marques said: “It was our dream to reach the semifinal or even the final, but she killed our game.
“I think the Sao Paulo state’s soccer federation has to look at matches of this importance and not give it to a woman. It is no good for us to play against Sao Paulo, Palmeiras, Corinthians, and they put a woman to referee a match of this importance.”
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