Neymar, Santos and Rodrigo Nestor
24 October 2026
Neymar was sent off during Santos’ 1-0 Brazilian Serie A victory over Bahia after covering his mouth while speaking to opponent Rodrigo Nestor. The incident involved a disciplinary rule introduced following concerns about players concealing discriminatory remarks.
Neymar covered his mouth while confronting Nestor, who drew the referee’s attention to the gesture. The referee subsequently showed Neymar a red card. The Brazilian forward denied making an offensive remark and accused Nestor of exploiting the rule. The regulation followed controversy involving Vinícius Júnior and Gianluca Prestianni in the Champions League. No further disciplinary outcome was confirmed in the supplied report.
Why It Matters
The dismissal highlights how football's new anti-discrimination measures can directly affect match decisions.