Brazil’s forward Neymar is seen after receiving a yellow card during the 2015 Copa America football championship match, in Santiago, Chile, on June 17. PHOTO/AP
SANTIAGO, June 22 – Brazil said Monday it will not appeal against a four-match ban on captain Neymar which will rule him out of the rest of the Copa America tournament.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said the Barcelona superstar would leave the team base in Santiago on Monday.
“During a meeting on Sunday night between Neymar and the technical management it was decided that the CBF would respect CONMEBOL’s decision,” said a CBF statement.
Neymar was sent off at the end of Brazil’s Copa game against Colombia last Wednesday when he appeared to headbutt an opposing player.
The South American confederation, CONMEBOL, banned him for four matches on Friday. Brazil had indicated it wanted to appeal and protested at Neymar’s treatement by referees during the tournament.
“The coaching staff and the player hope that the same rigour with which CONMEBOL punished Neymar will be applied in all competitions organised by the entity,” the statement added.
“The coaching staff of the Brazilian squad regret the loss of another important player for this tournament.”
The Brazilian squad said “Neymar is leaving the delegation which is based at the Sheraton hotel in Santiago on Monday.”
Brazil ensured they went into the quarter finals as top team from Group C by beating Venezuela 2-1 on Sunday. They will now face Group B runners-up Paraguay on Saturday.
