Neymar was shown a straight red card during Santos’ match against Bahia after an argument with opposing midfielder Rodrigo Nestor. The referee dismissed the Brazilian star following a VAR review after he covered his mouth with his hand while exchanging words with his opponent.

The incident occurred after halftime, before play resumed for the second half. Neymar repeatedly made comments toward Nestor, a Bahia midfielder, before covering his mouth and becoming involved in a heated verbal exchange.

Nestor immediately brought the incident to the referee’s attention. Referee Savio Pereira Sampaio reviewed the footage with the assistance of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) before showing Neymar a straight red card.

The decision was made under a rule introduced to combat racism and offensive remarks in football, widely referred to as the “Vini Jr. rule.” Under the regulation, which is set to take effect at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, players may receive a straight red card for covering their mouths while arguing with opponents.

The rule gained attention following an incident in the Champions League involving Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior and Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni. Vinicius accused Prestianni of racist abuse, prompting renewed efforts to prevent players from making offensive remarks while concealing their mouths.

Neymar had already received a yellow card in the first half following a challenge involving Nestor. The confrontation added to the tension between the two players.

As a result of the dismissal and his third yellow card, Neymar is expected to miss Santos’ next two matches. The suspensions stem from the accumulation of yellow cards and the straight red card.

Neymar also appeared to move toward Nestor as he left the pitch. Speaking to cameras afterward, the Santos forward claimed that the Bahia midfielder had deliberately provoked the incident. However, he acknowledged that covering his mouth while speaking had been a mistake.

Source: GE (Globo Esporte), CNN Brasil