Neymar handed two-match ban for covering his mouth and violating Brazil's 'Vinícius Law' in Brasileirão

Brazil's Sports Court suspended Neymar for two matches for covering his mouth while arguing with an opponent in the Brasileirão, a gesture punished under the 'Vinícius Law'.

The sanction under the 'Vinícius Law'

Brazil's Sports Court sanctioned Neymar, the Santos forward, with a two-match suspension on Wednesday for covering his mouth while arguing with an opponent during a Brazilian Championship match.

The second disciplinary commission of the Superior Court of Sports Justice punished the number 10 for "violating" the so-called 'Vinícius Law', which penalizes players who cover their mouths to talk on the pitch and applies in Brazilian tournaments.

The decision can still be appealed to the full court.

The sending-off in Santos vs. Bahía

Neymar was sent off with a straight red card before the second half of the Brasileirão match between Santos and Bahía began, played last Saturday at the Vila Belmiro stadium (1-1).

The former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) player was arguing with Bahía midfielder Rodrigo Nestor, with whom he had already had a run-in in the first half, when at a certain moment he covered his mouth to say something to him.

Nestor went straight to the referee to tell him what had happened. The official said he saw nothing, but the VAR alerted him and 'Ney' was sent off ipso facto.

In addition, the referee's report recorded that, after receiving the red card, the attacker "ran towards the visiting team's bench to confront his rival and had to be held back by his teammates."

Intent vs. instinctive gesture

The case instructor, Delmiro Campos, described the Santos star's behavior as an "act of concealing what is said, which undermines the transparency of the competition and sporting ethics."

"From an objective standpoint, the gesture of covering one's mouth in a context of confrontation directed at an opponent and the awareness of the illegality are unquestionable," he stated.

For its part, Neymar's defense argued that "there was no animosity or intense conflict between the players, who were exchanging words in a context of jokes and good humor."

"Not every gesture of covering one's mouth is typified in the Vinícius Jr. Law, and the player brought his hand to his mouth instinctively," added lawyer Marcelo Mendes at the hearing.

Some members of the disciplinary commission even proposed a four-match ban, but the majority ultimately imposed two. EFE