Overview
- The ban relates to a confrontation with Bahia’s Rodrigo Nestor in Santos’ 1-1 draw when Neymar covered his mouth during the exchange and was later sent off after a VAR intervention.
- The STJD issued the two-match suspension on Wednesday after reviewing the referee’s match report and video evidence.
- Because Neymar already faced a one-match ban for accumulated yellow cards, the new ruling will keep him out of three games and push his return to late November.
- Santos and Neymar retain the right to appeal the committee’s decision to the STJD full bench.
- The case highlights broader debate over the Vinícius protocol, a rule born from earlier mouth-covering allegations that aims to prevent concealed insults and now relies heavily on referee reports and VAR interpretation.