NEYMAR may be hit with a SEVEN-game ban after he was sent off for punching Marseille’s Alvaro Gonzalez.
The Brazilian was one of FIVE players sent off after a massive brawl at the end of Paris Saint-Germain’s shock 1-0 defeat on Sunday.
PSG star Neymar accused Marseille’s Alvaro of racismCredit: Reuters
Neymar was sent off for punching the defenderCredit: Reuters
Five players were dismissed in a fiery end to the Ligue 1 game on SundayCredit: Icon Sport – Getty
Former Barcelona star Neymar accused Spanish defender Alvaro of racially abusing him.
Neymar claimed Alvaro called him a ‘monkey son of a b****’.
But after being dismissed by VAR for landing a blow on the back of Alvaro’s head, RMC Sport reports the 28-year-old could be suspended for as many as seven matches.
Alvaro issued a strong anti-racism statement on Twitter after the game as he said ‘there is no place for racism’ alongside a photo with his black team-mates in an apparent denial.
But PSG have publicly backed their star player.
A statement issued on Monday read: “Paris Saint-Germain strongly supports Neymar Jr who reported being subjected to racist abuse by an opposing player.
“The club restates that there is no place for racism in society, in football or in our lives and calls on everyone to speak out against all forms of racism throughout the world.”
French governing body the LFP will review the incident before handing out an appropriate sanction and PSG said they ‘look forward’ to it ‘ascertaining the facts’.
Neymar also took to Twitter to slam Gonzalez saying he is ‘not a man’, a ‘racist’ and ‘I don’t respect you’.
He issued a further statement on his Instagram story on Monday where he explained that he ‘revolted’ and ‘could not leave without doing something’.
He added: “Yesterday I wanted those in charge of the game (referees, assistants) to position themselves impartially and understand that there is no longer such a place for a prejudiced attitude.
“Racism exists, it exists, but we have to stop it. No more, enough!
“I accept my punishment because I should have followed the path of clean football. I hope, on the other hand, that the offender will also be punished.
“The guy was a fool, I also acted like a fool for letting me getting involved in that.”
Neymar ditched Nike for Puma to follow in the footsteps of legends like Pele and Diego Maradona and his new boots certainly had an eventful first outing.
Marseille released a statement on Monday denying Gonzales is racist and slamming death threats he has received in wake of the clash.
It read: “Alvaro Gonzalez is not racist, he demonstrated it to us by his daily behaviour since joining the club, as his teammates have already testified.
“The club remains at the disposal of the disciplinary committee to fully cooperate in the investigation of all the events which marked this meeting, and the 24 hours which preceded them.
“This controversy is serious and already has serious consequences.
“The club thus condemns the dissemination of the private telephone numbers of Alvaro Gonzalez and his relatives this night on Brazilian media and social networks, giving rise since to constant harassment, consisting in particular of death threats.”
Neymar Jr. aims to follow in Pele, Maradona and Cruyff’s footsteps as he ditches Nike for Puma after 15 years
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
