Neymar faces 7-match ban for red card

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar faces a suspension of up to seven games following his dismissal during Sunday’s defeat to Olympique Marseille in Le Classique.

The 28-year-old was one of five players sent off in stoppage time as a scuffle broke out between the two rivals.

Dario Benedetto shoved Leandro Paredes to the ground in stoppage time to start the brawl. The game had been boiling over for several minutes prior.

Both Benedetto and Parades were shown their marching orders, as were full-backs Layvin Kurzawa and Jordan Amavi for exchanging kicks.

Referee Jerome Brisard then consulted the VAR to be shown replays of Neymar slapping Marseille defender Alvaro Gonzalez in the back of his head. The Brazilian superstar was subsequently shown a red card.

The LFP Disciplinary Committee rules, an act of aggression off-the-ball could warrant a suspension of up to seven games. Should the red card is deemed an attempted assault, Neymar can be suspended for up to six games.

However, Neymar took to social media after the game to say that Marseille defender Alvaro Gonzalez had made a racist remark to him, as the cause of his reaction. Neymar Tweeted:

“VAR catching my “aggression” is easy … now I want to see the image of the racist calling me “MONO HIJO DE PUTA” (monkey motherfucker) … that I want to see! What’s up? REEL u punish me .. Am expelled for a slap on the head… what about him? What’s up?”

https://twitter.com/neymarjr/status/1305275338390466561

Video footage showed Neymar telling the assistant referee that he slapped the Spaniard for being racially abused.

Neymar had earlier Tweeted:

“The only regret I have is not hitting this asshole in the face”.

Alvaro Gonzalez avoided any punishment on the field but now faces a 10-game ban himself.

The French Disciplinary Committee, which meet every Wednesday to review sanctions from the weekend’s games, will look at opening an investigation into incident.

Should Alvaro be found guilty for racially insulting Neymar, he could face a ban of up to 10 games.

Paris Saint-Germain are set to face Metz on Wednesday, with both teams looking to pick up their first points of the season. Thomas Tuchel’s side will be without Neymar, Layvin Kurzawa and Leandro Paredes indefinitely.

The defending Ligue 1 champions have suffered 0-1 defeats to RC Lens and Marseille to start the 2020-21 campaign but have missed a number of players due to coronavirus and Kylian Mbappe is out with an ankle injury.

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