Brazil said it will appeal Neymar’s four-game suspension that rules him out of the rest of the Copa America.
The Brazilian confederation’s “legal department will file a counterpoint to Neymar’s sanction,” coach Dunga said in a news conference in Santiago.
Dunga said Neymar was hugely important in football, and therefore the sanctions against him were huge, too.
“We don’t want anything in favor or against, just what’s fair,” Dunga said.
A CONMEBOL disciplinary panel ruled on Friday that he must sit out four games for his conduct in a 1-0 loss to Colombia on Wednesday, when he was sent off after the final whistle. He was also fined USD 10,000.
While Neymar dazzled in the opening win over Peru, he failed to shine and appeared nervous against Colombia. He clashed with opponents, and constantly complained to Chilean referee Enrique Osses. After the game, Neymar said it was all caused by a “weak referee.”
Neymar received a yellow card during the game, and second of the tournament, which would’ve been enough to keep him from playing on Sunday in the key group match against Venezuela.
“Neymar was hit 20 times during the game. After, he lost control and touched the ball with his hand, and he got a yellow card. Is this fair?” Dunga asked. “Just like (Alexis) Sanchez, (Lionel) Messi, and (Angel) Di Maria, these players have to be protected from so many fouls.”
Neymar was red-carded after apparently kicking the ball toward Colombia’s Pablo Armero after the ref blew for fulltime. He also appeared to head-butt another player who came to confront him.
