On the eve of the Brazilian team’s call-up for the World Cup, Neymar experienced an unusual situation this Sunday (17). An arbitration error led to his departure from the field in the match between Santos and Coritiba, for the Brazilian Championship, at Neo Química Arena.
In the 17th minute of the second half, the number 10 was off the pitch receiving medical attention after reporting pain in his calf, while Santos prepared a substitution. The change defined by the technical committee predicted Escobar’s departure for Robinho Jr.’s entry, but, at the time of the signal conducted by fourth referee Bruno Mota Correia, the electronic board mistakenly showed Neymar’s number.
Even with the official refereeing record recording Escobar as the player to be replaced, main referee Paulo Cesar Zanovelli da Silva considered the change completed after Robinho Jr.’s entry and prevented Neymar from returning to the field. The decision provoked immediate protests from players and members of the Santos bench.
The most dissatisfied was the number 10 himself. Neymar even took the document delivered by the Santos technical committee with the correct substitution from Bruno Mota Correia’s hands and showed it to a cameraman on the edge of the pitch, in an attempt to prove the error.
For returning to the field without authorization, the star still received a yellow card.
The referee, however, maintained the decision on the grounds that Robinho Jr. had already participated in the match.
Even though the controversy may have harmed Santos and, above all, Neymar, until the moment it happened, the number 10 played a discreet performance. With the mission of showing Carlo Ancelotti’s coaching staff that he is in physical condition to be called up to defend Brazil in the World Cup, Neymar produced little on the field. He didn’t win many individual duels, he wasn’t able to produce his characteristic runs nor did he find ways to help the team organize itself offensively.
At the moment the refereeing error occurred, Cuca was trying to increase the offensive power of the team, which was losing 3-0 — a score built in the first half, with two goals from Breno Lopes and one from Josue, and maintained until the final whistle.
The Santos situation became even more delicate in the 27th minute, when Álvaro Barreal was sent off and left the team with one man less in the final stretch of the match.
Now, Neymar has just over 24 hours to know if his effort on the field, in the time he was able to play, was enough. The call will be this Monday (18), at 5pm (Brasília time), at an event promoted by the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) at the Museum of Tomorrow, in Rio de Janeiro.
