Neymar facing lengthy ban over vulgar comments made towards referee in potential World Cup blow

Neymar faces a potential 12-game ban after making a contentious remark about a referee – which could affect his World Cup chances.

The Brazilian superstar has not featured for his country since October 2023 after struggling for form and fitness, but still remains hopeful of making it to the USA, Canada and Mexico.

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His dreams currently hang in the balance, having been left out of Carlo Ancelotti‘s squad for March’s international fixtures before naming his final 26-man group for the summer showpiece.

But Neymar could be dealt a huge blow after his post-match comments following Santos‘ 2-0 win over Remo.

The 34-year-old took aim at referee Savio Pereira Sampaio, who booked him for dissent after he complained about a foul on him by Diego Hernandez.

With this Neymar’s third yellow card in four games, it saw him ruled out of his side’s next fixture against Flamengo.

However, he could be looking at even lengthier spell away from the pitch, if his words after the game are to be looked into.

‘Are you crazy?’

In an explosive interview, Neymar raged: “It’s always the same. It’s unfair.

“I suffered a foul from behind, unnecessarily, at the end of the game. It wasn’t the first time. It was the third or fourth.

“I just went to complain to him. I said: ‘Are you crazy?’ I already got a yellow card.

“Anyway, Savio is like that. I think he woke up a bit, as they say, on his period, and came into the game like that.

“You couldn’t even talk to him without him ignoring you, turning his back on you.”

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Neymar’s furious rant was not well-received, with many viewing his choice of language as discriminatory.

While it has been suggested that his words could have been lost in translation, they have still caused offence, especially as the former Barcelona star is seen laughing as he makes the comment.

Punishment looming?

The interview could land Neymar in hot water, with another player in Brazil’s top-flight being banned for 12 games for sexist remarks.

Earlier this year, Red Bull Bragantino defender Gustavo Marques was punished after he criticised the decision to appoint female referee Daiane Muniz.

Marques said: “I think the FPF [Sao Paulo Football Federation] has to look at a game of this size and not appoint a female referee.

“With all respect to women around the world – I’m married, I also have my mum – I’m sorry if I’m saying anything bad about women, but I don’t think that she has the capacity to referee this game.”

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This prompted his club to release a statement condemning his words, whilst Marques also later apologised.

Neymar furious reaction

Neymar’s crude choice of words weren’t his only criticism for referee Sampaio after his side’s win, as he continued to slate him in his interview.

He carried on: “He’s the kind of referee who wants to be the star of the game, who has a great lack of respect for all the players.

“It wasn’t just with me. It was with the Remo players too. He doesn’t want to talk, he doesn’t want to converse.

“This has to improve. He’s the guy who’s in charge of the game, who has to command everything.

“And sometimes we’ll complain, as is football, we’ll ask why, question. He needs to know how to handle that. If he handles it that way, it becomes very unpleasant, very disrespectful.”

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Will Neymar go to the World Cup?

While it remains to be seen if Neymar will be punished for his comments, any lengthy ban would throw his involvement in the upcoming World Cup into doubt.

He already has a tall enough order of forcing his way into Carlo Ancelotti’s plans in time for June, who declined to call him up for his latest Brazil squad after insisting he is not fully fit.

Despite his recent omission, Ancelotti recently said of the football superstar: “Neymar can be at the World Cup.

“If he can reach the next World Cup at 100 per cent, he can be at the World Cup.

“Why is he not on this list now? Because he is not 100 per cent. We need players at 100 per cent right now.”