Neymar given two-match ban by Brazil's STJD over Vini Jr. Protocol breach

Neymar was handed a two-match suspension by Brazil's Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) on October 28, 2026, after the court considered his lawsuit alleging a breach of the Vini Jr. Protocol. The ruling was issued by a majority vote.

The STJD found Santos’ No. 10 guilty of concealing his lips during a confrontation with Rodrigo Nestor of Bahia before returning for the second half, and the club retains the right to file an appeal against the decision. The forward covered his face while confronting the opponent player during the incident.

In the match, Neymar received his third yellow card in the first half after hurling the ball at Nestor following a foul by the Bahia midfielder close to the byline; the game finished 1-1. The red card from that incident carried an automatic suspension for the next fixture.

As a result of the red card, Neymar is automatically suspended for Santos’ next match against RB Bragantino on Monday, November 2, in round 34. In addition to the automatic suspension, the STJD ban precludes him from the round 35 match against Coritiba on November 18 following the international break.

The decision means Neymar will not play again until November 22, when Santos meet Grádio, and the player could miss the November fixtures entirely if the sanction is extended. If the suspension were increased to a six-game ban, he might also miss Santos’ matches against Vitória on November 29 and Botafogo in the Brasileirão final round on December 2.

With six games remaining, Santos are currently eighth in the standings and 12 points clear of the drop zone; a maximum punishment would result in Neymar missing the club’s last stretch of the Brazilian Championship. Following the hearing, the forward has been given a two-game ban, and Santos may pursue an appeal; pending any successful challenge, Neymar will not be available for the round-34 trip to RB Bragantino on Monday, November 2.