Overview
- In a post-match TV interview after Santos beat Remo, Neymar said referee Sávio Pereira Sampaio had “acordou de Chico.”
- The phrase, a euphemism for menstruation with sexist roots, drew heavy condemnation on Brazilian social media.
- International outlets including L'Equipe, Sport, and Diario Olé highlighted the backlash and noted possible impact on his 2026 World Cup chances.
- Sávio Pereira Sampaio booked Neymar during the game, reported as his third yellow card, which rules him out of Santos’s next match against Flamengo.
- Neymar has not issued an apology or clarification as coverage continues to scrutinize the language he used.