Neymar handed additional 2-game ban over mouth-covering gesture

Brazilian football star Neymar of Santos has received an additional two-game suspension — the result of violating what has become known as the "Vinicius rule."

Citing AP and Reuters, Yonhap reported Thursday that Neymar was handed the two-game ban for covering the mouth during an argument with an opposing player in a Brazilian league match.

The incident occurred Sunday during a home match against EC Bahia that ended 1-1. With Santos trailing 1-0 just before halftime, Neymar got into a verbal altercation with Bahia midfielder Rodrigo Nestor and covered the mouth with a hand, drawing an ejection.

Brazil's Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) ruled that the gesture violated the "Vinicius rule."

The rule was created following allegations that Benfica's Gianluca Prestiani covered his mouth while making racist remarks toward Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior during a UEFA Champions League match in February.

The regulation has been in effect since the FIFA North and Central America World Cup held this summer.

Because Neymar had already accumulated yellow cards, the latest decision means Neymar will miss a total of three matches. A return to the pitch is not expected until late November, after the FIFA international break.

Santos can appeal the additional suspension.

Neymar holds the all-time scoring record for the Brazilian national team, with 80 goals in 130 caps.

Meanwhile, Neymar announced retirement from the Brazilian national team in late July.

According to Brazilian daily Folha de S.Paulo, Neymar made the announcement in a mixed-zone interview after Santos defeated Venezuela's Universidad Central 4-2 in the CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana, saying, "My time with the national team is over."

"I wrote history there and was very happy," Neymar said. "I experienced so much. I bled for it and gave my life to it. I always fought and gave everything for the national team, but I don't think I want that anymore."

Neymar played in four World Cups — Brazil in 2014, Russia in 2018, Qatar in 2022, and the North and Central America tournament this year. The best result came in 2014, when Brazil reached the semifinals. At the Russia and Qatar tournaments, the run ended in the quarterfinals, while this year's campaign concluded in the round of 16.

Despite a glittering individual career, Neymar had little luck in major tournaments. The first and only major trophy lifted with the senior national team was the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.