Copa America: Brazil Forward Neymar Out Of Tournament

Source: thewillnigeria.com

Neymar has been ruled out of the Copa America tournament in Chile after Brazil opted not to appeal against the Barcelona forward’s four-game ban.

The 23-year-old was shown a red card after the final whistle of Brazil’s 1-0 defeat to Colombia last week.

Brazil coach Dunga had said that the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) would likely contest the card.

But Neymar was due to leave the Brazil camp on Monday after the confederation released a statement not to appeal.

“The technical commission and the player hopes that Conmebol [the South American Football Confederation] adopt the same rigour they used in punishing Neymar in all their competitions,” said the statement.

Neymar, who won La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey with Barcelona in 2014-15, was banned for four matches after getting a yellow card, a straight red and then showering the referee with abuse during and after last Wednesday’s game with Colombia.

Brazil lost the match 1-0, their first defeat in 12 games.

Neymar was in the ground on Sunday to see Brazil beat Venezuela 2-1, a result that took them to the top of Group C and into a quarter-final tie with Paraguay on Saturday.

The final of Copa America is on 4 July.
BBC SPORTS