Brazil forward Neymar has been banned for four games that sees the FC Barcelona star ruled out of the rest of the Copa America.
South American federation CONMEBOLa s disciplinary committee has extended the provisional one game ban for Neymar to four games that sees him miss the entire Copa America, if Brazil reach the final, after his behavior in the aftermath of Brazila s 1-0 defeat to Colombia.
Brazil were hoping for a lenient punishment with the CBF citing the linesman calling Neymar ‘a diver’ and thereby provoking him. But, the defense seems to have failed.
Colombia upset the five-time world champions in a combative game Wednesday that ended in a tumultuous melee, as the FC Barcelona star Neymar appeared to aim a headbutt at Colombian goalscorer Jeison Murillo.
Colombiaa s Seville striker Carlos Bacca also received a red card for pushing Neymar from behind.
Neymar had previously received a second yellow card for a handball, meaning at least a one-game suspension was inevitable.
There was already bad blood between Neymar and the Colombian team heading into the matchwith the FC Barcelona star suffering a fractured vertebra when Colombiaa s Juan Zuniga collided with him in their World Cup quarter-final clash last July, an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the tournament as Brazil lost both the remaining games to finish fourth.
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Wednesdaya s match that saw Brazil lose to Colombia and Peru beating Venezuela, left Group C of the South American championship up for grabs, with all four teams tied at three points each.