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By African360 Sports
Santos captain Neymar has been handed a two-match suspension by Brazil’s Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) after covering his mouth during an argument with Bahia midfielder Rodrigo Nestor.
The 34-year-old forward was punished on Wednesday, October 28, following an incident during Santos’ 1-1 draw with Bahia in the Brazilian Serie A on Saturday. The tribunal ruled that Neymar had violated the country’s so-called “Vini Jr. Protocol”, which prohibits players from covering their mouths during on-field confrontations.
Neymar was sent off after the confrontation with Nestor. According to the referee’s report, the Brazilian then ran towards Bahia’s bench to confront his opponent and had to be restrained by his teammates.
The disciplinary ruling means Neymar is set to miss three Santos matches in total. He was already due to miss Wednesday’s game against Palmeiras because he had accumulated three yellow cards.
Neymar and Santos have the right to appeal the additional two-match suspension.
Why was Neymar punished?
The case centres on the protocol introduced to discourage players from concealing their mouths during confrontations, making it harder for officials to establish whether abusive or discriminatory language has been used.
The rule became a major talking point following an incident involving Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior and Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during a UEFA Champions League match in February 2026. Vinícius alleged that Prestianni directed racist abuse at him, while Prestianni denied the accusation.
The incident prompted renewed debate about how football authorities can identify and address discriminatory behaviour on the pitch.
In Neymar’s case, the STJD ruled that covering his mouth during the confrontation breached the relevant protocol. The disciplinary decision concerned the act of concealing his speech; it did not establish that Neymar had used racist or other discriminatory language.
Neymar says he made a mistake
Following his dismissal against Bahia, Neymar acknowledged that covering his mouth was a mistake but disputed the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The forward said the exchange with Nestor had been playful and denied that he had insulted the Bahia midfielder.
The referee’s report also recorded Neymar’s attempt to approach the opposing bench after being sent off, which formed part of the disciplinary case.
The tribunal nevertheless imposed a two-match suspension. The decision was made at first instance, meaning it can be challenged through the appropriate appeals process.
When will Neymar return?
The suspension adds to a difficult period for Neymar, whose return to regular action has been interrupted by disciplinary issues and fitness concerns.
He is expected to miss Santos’ matches against Palmeiras, Red Bull Bragantino and Coritiba if the ruling remains in force.
That would leave him targeting a return against Grêmio in late November, depending on the outcome of any appeal and the club’s schedule.
For Santos, Neymar’s absence is a setback as the club approaches the closing stages of the Brazilian league season.
The case also puts renewed attention on the enforcement of rules intended to improve transparency and combat abusive conduct in football. Whether Santos appeals successfully could determine how soon its captain returns to action.
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