Uefa has upheld its decision to ban Neymar for three Champions League games after “insulting match officials” during Paris Saint-Germain’s home defeat to Manchester United.
The governing body announced on Wednesday they had rejected PSG’s appeal, with the Brazilian now set to be unavailable for the opening group games of Europe’s elite competition.
“The appeal lodged by Paris Saint-Germain is rejected,” a Uefa spokesperson said. “Consequently, the Uefa Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body’s decision of 25 April is confirmed.
“The CEDB had decided to suspend the Paris Saint-Germain player Neymar Junior for three (3) Uefa competition matches for which he would be otherwise eligible, for insulting match officials.”
In the wake of PSG’s 3-1 defeat by Unitd at Parc des Princes, Neymar explicitly criticised the controversial last-gasp penalty awarded to the visitors for handball against Presnel Kimpembe.
“This is a disgrace, they put four people that know nothing about football in charge of looking at the replay for VAR,” Neymar said.
“There is no penalty. How can it be a handball when it hits his back! Go f**k yourselves!”
