Brazil’s technical coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi says FC Barcelona star Neymar disobeyed instructions from Brazil coaching staff when he confronted the referee after seeing red against Colombia at the Copa America.
South American federation CONMEBOLa s disciplinary committee had extended the provisional one game ban for the FC Barcelona star to four games following his behavior towards the officials in the aftermath of Brazila s 1-0 defeat to Colombia. The suspension meant that Neymar did not play any part in Brazila s Copa America campaign.
It was alleged in some quarters that the punishment might have been too harsh with the referee’s report failing to mention any physical attack by the FC Barcelona star confirming there was none. However, the player got the ban and Gilmar has now revealed that Neymar’s decision to angrily confront referee Enrique Osses in the tunnel was in direct defiance of advice from his seniors.
a I told him to be careful because he is responsible for his own actions,a former World Cup winner Gilmar told L’Equipe.
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a Neymar told me it was fair for him to talk to the referee, but I told him that it wasna t the right time.”
a But this is a learning process. I participated in his nomination as captain and I have no regrets. I have to prepare a great captain.a
Brazil played just twice more in the tournament, crashing out on penalties to Paraguay in the quarter-finals, meaning Neymara s suspension rolls into the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. As a result, the FC Barcelona star will miss his country’s opening two fixtures against Colombia and Ecuador.