Neymar Handed Two-Match Ban for Covering His Mouth During Dispute

Football legend Neymar received a two-match ban due to the controversial rule

Brazilian striker Neymar was handed a two-match ban for covering his mouth with his hand during an altercation with an opponent. The decision was taken by the Brazilian Supreme Court of Sports Justice (STJD) following the 32nd-round league match between Santos and Bahia, which ended in a 1–1 draw.

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According to Globo, the incident took place on 24 October. During a clash with Bahia midfielder Rodrigo Nestor, Neymar covered his mouth with his hand. The referee did not notice the gesture immediately, but following VAR intervention, he reviewed the incident and showed the player a straight red card.

The disciplinary body subsequently handed the forward a two-match ban. Furthermore, Neymar will miss one match due to an accumulation of yellow cards. As a result, Santos will be without their captain for their next three matches. Both the club and the player have the right to appeal the decision.

What is this new rule?

The new measure is known as the ‘Vinícius rule’ – named after the Brazilian striker Vinícius Júnior, who has repeatedly been the target of racist abuse. One of the reasons for tightening the measures was an incident involving Benfica player Gianluca Prestiani: during a confrontation with Vinícius, he covered his mouth whilst speaking to the Brazilian.

In April 2026, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved a rule change. This allows a player to be sent off if they cover their mouth whilst communicating with an opponent in a provocative, humiliating or insulting situation. However, this does not mean that any contact with the mouth with the hand automatically results in a red card: the decision depends on the circumstances of the incident and whether the specific competition organiser has introduced this rule.

The rule applies not only to covering the mouth with the palm of the hand. A player may use their hand, forearm or shirt. The main aim is to prevent players from concealing racist, discriminatory or other offensive remarks from referees and CCTV cameras.

In Brazil, this rule began to be applied in the league following a decision by the national football association. The Neymar incident became one of the most high-profile examples of its application.

This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.

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