Neymar (34, Santos) exploded in anger over an absurd substitution mishap. During the match, a referee error led to him being unfairly forced off the field.
The British broadcaster BBC reported on the 18th (Korea time), "Neymar clashed vehemently with the referees after an incorrect substitution decision during the match against Coritiba."
Santos suffered a 0-3 defeat to Coritiba in the Brazilian league that day. Neymar started the match, but the substitution incident attracted more attention than the game itself.
The problem occurred around the 20th minute of the second half. Neymar had briefly left the pitch to receive treatment for a calf pain. At that time, the fourth official put Neymar's number 10 on the electronic board for the substitution.
The player who was actually supposed to be substituted was Gonzalo Escobar. The Santos bench and Neymar immediately protested.
Neymar tried to re-enter the field but was instead shown a yellow card. Furious, he snatched the substitution paper from the referees and held it up in front of the TV cameras to protest that Escobar—not him—was the player to be substituted.
In the end, Neymar was substituted off as shown. He handed the captain's armband to Escobar and left the field.
Santos also pointed out the referees' mistake in an official statement after the match.
The club said on social media, "The fourth official applied the substitution incorrectly. This is confirmed from the broadcast screen and the substitution memo used by the referees," adding, "It was an incomprehensible mistake and was not ultimately corrected."
This match had special significance. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti was due to announce the CONCACAF World Cup squad one day later. Neymar also played with strong motivation to earn a place on the national team.
Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading scorer, has 79 goals in A internationals. However, due to frequent injuries, he has not appeared for the national team since 2023.
Recently he extended his contract with Santos through the end of 2026 with the goal of playing in the World Cup.
Brazil will play its first CONCACAF World Cup group-stage match against Morocco on June 13. They will then face Haiti and Scotland in succession.
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