By Karim Hammam
Brazil's sports tribunal has suspended Neymar for two matches after he covered his mouth while arguing with an opponent during a Santos match against Bahia last weekend. The ban falls under a protocol known as the "Vinicius Law," named after Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior.
Three-match absence
In total, Neymar will miss three games. The first is a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards, which he will serve against Palmeiras in the Brazilian league on Wednesday. The additional two matches are for the mouth-covering incident. He is not expected to return until late November.
Appeal possible
Neymar and Santos can appeal the two-match suspension for covering his mouth.
Stop-start 2026 season
Neymar has endured a disrupted 2026 campaign, scoring eight goals in 15 Serie A appearances while battling multiple injury setbacks. His early-season form earned a recall to the Brazilian national team for the World Cup, but he missed the opening matches through injury and made only two substitute appearances, scoring a penalty against Norway. Brazil were eliminated in the round of 16 by European opponents.
International retirement
After the tournament, Neymar announced the end of his international career, having scored 80 goals in 130 caps. "I think my time with the national team has already passed. I made history there, and I'm very happy about it," he told reporters. He added in an emotional interview: "I tried, I tried. Now it's over."
