Neymar banned for two matches due to 'Vinicius Law' violation in Brazil

The Brazilian Sports Justice Commission decided on Wednesday to suspend Neymar, the Santos FC forward, for two matches due to covering his mouth with his hand during a verbal altercation with an opposing player in a match in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. The decision came in light of what is known as the 'Vinícius Law', which aims to punish players who cover their mouths while speaking on the pitch.

The incident dates back to the match between Santos FC and Esporte Clube Bahia, which took place last Saturday at the Vila Belmiro Stadium and ended in a 1-1 draw. Neymar got into a confrontation with Bahia midfielder Rodrygo Nestor before covering his mouth with his hand while speaking to him. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened to alert the referee about the incident after Nestor informed the referee of what had happened, leading to the latter deciding to send off Neymar with a straight red card before the start of the second half.

The referee's report indicated that Neymar ran towards the opposing team's bench to confront Néstor after his dismissal, which forced his teammates to intervene to prevent him from reaching him. The investigator in the case, Dilmeiro Campos, described the player's actions as an attempt to conceal what was said, considering it contrary to transparency and the ethics of competitive sports.

In contrast, Neymar's defense argued that the conversation between the players took place in a joking atmosphere, denying any hostility or serious disagreement between them. They also stated that the player covered his mouth spontaneously, and that this behavior does not constitute a violation in all cases. Despite some committee members suggesting a four-match suspension, the penalty was settled at two matches, with the possibility of appealing the decision before the general court.