Brazilian Footballer Neymar Receives Suspension Over Mouth-Covering Protocol

Santos captain Neymar has received a two-match suspension from Brazil’s Superior Court of Sports Justice following an on-field incident during a Brazilian Serie A fixture. Al Jazeera English reported that the sanctions stem from the player's actions during a 1-1 draw against Bahia on Saturday.

During the match, the 34-year-old received a red card following an altercation with Bahia midfielder Rodrigo Nestor. According to the sports tribunal, Neymar violated a specific protocol that forbids players from covering their mouths during on-field confrontations. The rule was established to curb inappropriate on-field behavior.

The referee’s official report stated that after being sent off, Neymar ran toward the opposing team's bench to continue confronting his opponent and required physical restraint from his teammates. As a result of the disciplinary action and prior yellow-card accumulations, the player will miss upcoming matches.

The suspension rules Neymar out of three upcoming fixtures. He was already scheduled to miss a league match against Palmeiras due to accumulating three yellow cards, and he will now serve two additional matches for violating the mouth-covering regulation. Reports indicate he is not expected to return to competitive play until late November.

The regulation in question follows international rule changes. In April, the International Football Association Board unanimously approved a rule issuing a red card to players who cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents or other players. The FIFA-approved amendment was introduced ahead of the World Cup to address inappropriate on-field interactions.

The policy originates from previous high-profile incidents, including a UEFA Champions League match involving Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni and a subsequent instance during the World Cup where Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron received a suspension under the same protocol.