​Neymar Faces Potential 12-Match Ban Over Alleged Sexist Remark Comparing Referee to Menstruation

April 4 – The Sun reports that Neymar's World Cup hopes could be severely damaged as he faces a potential 12-match ban.

The 34-year-old Santos star has spent much of the last three years battling fitness and form issues but still dreamt of playing at the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, after he was left out of Brazil's squad for the last international window before Carlo Ancelotti finalizes his preliminary list, his already slim chances may be about to fade.

On Friday morning, after receiving his third yellow card in four matches, he launched a tirade against referee Sávio Pereira Sampaio. His post-match comments could lead to a substantial suspension, especially given his previous punishment for a similar incident.

Santos had just secured a 2-0 win over Remo – their second victory in nine Brasileirão matches this season – but Neymar was not happy. After being fouled by Diego Hernández, he complained to Sampaio but ended up receiving a yellow card himself. This ruled him out of Sunday's match against Flamengo, and Neymar did not hold back afterwards.

The captain said: "It's always the same, unfair. I suffered an unnecessary foul from behind in the latter stages of the match. It wasn't the first time, it was the third or fourth. I just went to complain to him. I said: 'Are you crazy?' I already had a yellow card. Anyway, Sávio is like that. I think he's like people say, a bit 'like he's on his period' and then goes into the match like that. You can't even talk to him, he either ignores you or turns his back on you."

While some may argue that Neymar's protest lost something in translation, many were offended by the language he used, particularly as he was laughing while saying it. Earlier this year, Red Bull Bragantino defender Gustavo Marques was banned for 12 matches for making sexist comments about female referee Daiane Muniz. Marques said at the time: "I think the São Paulo Football Federation has to pay attention to a game of this magnitude and not appoint a female referee. I have all respect for all women – I'm married and I have a mother – and I apologize if anything I said was disrespectful to women, but I don't think she had the authority to officiate this match." The player's club issued a statement condemning his remarks, and Marques later apologized publicly.

Neymar has not made any further statements since the match ended. However, his post-match interview did continue. He added: "He's a referee who wants to be the protagonist of the game and is very disrespectful to all the players. Not just to me, but to the Remo players as well. He doesn't want to talk, he doesn't want to communicate. That has to improve. He's the one in charge of the game, the one who commands everything. Sometimes we complain – it's part of football – we ask why, we question. He needs to know how to handle that situation. When he handles it like that, it becomes very unpleasant and very disrespectful."

Source: The Sun