During the Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) match against Strasbourg, Neymar got sent off for diving in the penalty area. This was the Brazil forward’s first match since the World Cup, but it was not the first time he got in trouble.
In the 61st minute of the match, Neymar picked up his first yellow card for catching Strasbourg midfielder Adrien Thomasson in the face with his hand. He received a second caution one minute later for diving.
When the Brazil player received the red card, he confronted referee Clement Turpin, but the decision remained.
It was the fifth time that Neymar got a red card since joining PSG for a world record fee of 222 million Euros in 2017. Because of this red card, he will be suspended for this Sunday’s game at second-place Lens. According to the match broadcaster Canal Plus, the player had left the stadium just minutes after his sending-off.
Neymar did however, manage to set up the PSG’s opening goal at Parc des Princes for countryman Marquinhos early in the match. Before this incident, no other player has been sent off more often in the French league since the 2017-2018 season.
While Neymar is a prominent player, he has gotten a total of eleven red cards before this match. The last time Neymar had gotten a red card was in the Ligue clash in April 2021 against Lille.
After Neymar had left the field, Kylian Mbappé’s penalty deep into stoppage time sealed Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-1 victory.
During his time at PSG, Neymar has scored 115 goals and assisted 72 times in 165 appearances. This season, the player has 11 league goals and 10 assists.
He had re-joined PSG after Brazil crashed out in the quarter-finals of the World Cup earlier this month to Croatia. According to reports, the player had hinted at retirement from international duty.
In one interview, he stated, “I want to take time to think about the national team and think about what I want for myself,” and “I am not closing the door on the national team, but I am not saying 100 percent either that I will come back.”
Back in May, it was reported that Neymar signed a four-year contract extension with the club. “I’m very happy, very happy to be extending my contract with Paris until 2025,” he said.
“The truth is that I’m very happy to be staying here for four more years, to be a part of the club’s project, to try and win titles, to try and achieve our biggest dream which is the Champions League.”
PSG’s next match will be against Lens on January 2. So far, Paris Saint-Germain has won all of their matches, and is number one in the standings with a total of 44 points. Following them is Lens, with 37 points. Monday’s game will surely be a tight one as both teams look to maintain their good form.
