Neymar suspended for clash with fan

PARIS (AP):

Neymar will not play again at the Parc des Princes this season. The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker was given a three-game ban yesterday for lashing out at a fan after a loss in the French Cup final last month, a punishment that capped another disappointing season for the Brazilian.

The French football federation’s disciplinary commission added a suspended two-match ban to its punishment.

PSG said in a statement that it finds the sanction “severe” and has decided with Neymar to appeal the decision.

After Rennes beat PSG 6-5 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the final at the Stade de France, Neymar reacted angrily to a fan who was filming and verbally goading players as they walked up the stairs to collect their runner-up medals. Neymar exchanged a few words with the supporter then raised his hand to him. It was unclear if Neymar made physical contact with him.

Other PSG players, including Gianluigi Buffon and Marco Verratti, were verbally abused by the same person and ignored him.

PSG coach Thomas Tuchel criticised Neymar for the spat and the Brazilian player later apologised.

The ban starts Monday, ruling Neymar out of PSG’s last two league games. He can, however, play with the French champions at Angers today.

The Brazil forward will also miss the Champions Trophy between the French champions and the French Cup winners on August 3.

Neymar has also been suspended for three games by UEFA for insulting the video-review officials who awarded Manchester United’s stoppage-time penalty when PSG were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League in the last 16.