Neymar Suspended Three Matches After Mouth-Covering Red Card Under Vinicius Protocol

Neymar was sent off during Santos' 1-1 draw against Bahia on October 24, 2026, after covering his mouth with his hand while arguing with Bahia midfielder Rodrigo Nestor. The red card was issued under the Vinicius Protocol, a FIFA disciplinary rule designed to combat racial abuse by penalizing players who obstruct their speech during confrontations. The incident occurred as the second half was about to begin, following an earlier altercation in the first half where Neymar threw the ball at Nestor after receiving a foul call.

On October 28, the STJD (Superior Court of Sports Justice) Disciplinary Commission suspended Neymar for two additional matches, bringing his total suspension to three games. The court ruled that Neymar violated article 191, section II of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice, which addresses failure to comply with directives from sports administration bodies. The ruling noted that the protocol's intent is to preserve transparency in competition and prevent obstruction of speech during confrontations—not specifically tied to racist content in this case. Neymar's total three-match ban includes the automatic suspension from his red card, a third yellow card received in the same match, and the two-game STJD penalty.

Neymar contested the suspension, claiming he was joking and had not spoken while covering his mouth. He criticized Nestor for invoking an anti-racism rule in what he characterized as normal on-field banter. In his defense at the STJD hearing, Neymar's attorney argued the gesture was instinctive and occurred in a playful context rather than a serious confrontation. Nestor, meanwhile, alleged that Neymar had been disrespectful both to him personally and to Bahia's jersey, describing his words as "very disrespectful." The VAR audio released by the CBF confirmed Nestor reported the mouth-covering to the referee, who then reviewed video evidence and issued the straight red card. After expulsion, Neymar ran toward Bahia's bench to confront Nestor and had to be restrained by teammates.