Neymar suspended for two matches after covering his mouth in Santos game

Neymar was handed a two-match suspension by Brazil's sports tribunal on Wednesday after he covered his mouth during an on-pitch confrontation with a Bahia player in Santos' match against Bahia last weekend. The tribunal ruled the action breached the protocol known as the 'Vinicius Law'.

The 'Vinicius Law' is named after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior; earlier this year Vinicius had accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during a Champions League match and Prestianni had covered his mouth with his shirt during that confrontation. The tribunal applied the protocol named after that episode in reaching its decision on Neymar's conduct.

Neymar will miss three matches in total, with one suspension coming from an accumulation of yellow cards and the two-match ban relating to the mouth-covering incident. Neymar and Santos can appeal the two-match suspension. The club and player retain the right to pursue that appeal under the tribunal's process.

The 34-year-old has had an injury-hit 2026 but has continued to contribute when available. He has scored eight goals in 15 appearances in Brazil's Serie A this year. Those statistics were cited in reports summarising his season to date.

Neymar earned a recall to Brazil's national team after his performances in the first half of the year. Injuries limited his involvement at the World Cup, where he made two substitute appearances and scored a penalty against Norway. Brazil were eliminated in the Round of 16 after losing to their European opponents.

Following the tournament Neymar announced that he would not continue his international career, having scored 80 goals in 130 appearances for Brazil. "I think my time with the national team has already passed. I made history there, and I'm very happy about it," Neymar told reporters. "I experienced a lot there, gave my blood and my life, and always fought and battled for the yellow jersey. But I don't think I want it anymore." His comments followed an emotional interview with Brazilian broadcaster ge after Brazil's World Cup exit, in which he said: "I tried, I tried. Now it's over."

He will serve the first of the suspensions in Wednesday's Brazilian league match against Palmeiras and is not expected to return until late November.