Paris Saint Germain forward, Neymar Jnr could be slapped with a seven-game ban after he was sent off for punching Marseille’s Alvaro Gonzalez during their Ligue 1 game on Sunday.
The Brazilian superstar was one of five players sent off after a huge brawl broke out between Argentine pair Dario Benedetto and Leandro Paredes, and then extended to other players at the end of PSG’s shock 1-0 defeat to Marseille.
Neymar accused Spanish defender Alvaro of racially abusing him during the clash. He claimed Alvaro called him a ‘monkey son of a b****’.
But after being dismissed by VAR for his attack on Alvaro, RMC Sport reports the 28-year-old could be suspended for as many as seven matches.
A statement issued on Monday read: “Paris Saint-Germain strongly supports Neymar Jr who reported being subjected to racist abuse by an opposing player.
“The club restates that there is no place for racism in society, in football or in our lives and calls on everyone to speak out against all forms of racism throughout the world.”
Neymar also issued a statement on his Instagram story where he explained that he ‘could not leave without doing something’.
He added: “Yesterday I wanted those in charge of the game (referees, assistants) to position themselves impartially and understand that there is no longer such a place for a prejudiced attitude.
“Racism exists, it exists, but we have to stop it. No more, enough!
“I accept my punishment because I should have followed the path of clean football. I hope, on the other hand, that the offender will also be punished.
“The guy was a fool, I also acted like a fool for letting me getting involved in that.”
Marseille also released a statement denying Gonzales is racist and slamming death threats he has received in wake of the clash.
It read: “Alvaro Gonzalez is not racist, he demonstrated it to us by his daily behaviour since joining the club, as his teammates have already testified.
“The club remains at the disposal of the disciplinary committee to fully cooperate in the investigation of all the events which marked this meeting, and the 24 hours which preceded them.
“This controversy is serious and already has serious consequences.
“The club thus condemns the dissemination of the private telephone numbers of Alvaro Gonzalez and his relatives this night on Brazilian media and social networks, giving rise since to constant harassment, consisting in particular of death threats.”
The French governing body, LFP, will review the incident before handing out an appropriate sanction to the players involved in the brawl.
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