Off the wire
• Experts to meet in Kigali in May to discuss Africa's technology future  • German tax burden 2nd highest in OECD  • Roundup: Pause in British inflation's upward path  • Nigeria supports Boko Haram victims with health program: official  • World Snooker Championship to be broadcast live on Facebook  • Kenya's Kipchoge on course to run marathon under two hours in Italy  • No agreement among G7 FMs on further Syrian sanctions  • House prices in Britain show 5.7-percent annual increase in Feb.  • British stocks rise slightly Tuesday  • Special edition of "Ukraine-China" magazine launched in Kiev  
You are here: 　 Home

Three-game ban means Neymar to miss season defining Classico

Xinhua, April 11, 2017 Adjust font size:

FC Barcelona will be without Neymar for the 'Classico' away to Real Madrid on April 23 after the Brazilian was given a three-game ban by the disciplinary committee of the Spanish Football Federation.

Neymar was sent off for two yellow cards in Barca's 2-0 defeat to Malaga on Sunday and sarcastically applauded the fourth official.

In their Tuesday meeting the disciplinary committee decided to sanction the Brazilian with one game for the two yellow cards and to add further two games for the applause, which they consider to be "directing oneself to the referee ... with a disrespectful attitude".

That means Neymar will be missing this Saturday's Liga Santander at home to Real Sociedad, the 'Classico' the following week and the midweek fixture at home to Osasuna on April 26th.

Barcelona can appeal, but even if the ban was reduced to 2 he would still miss out on a game his side need to win to have any chance of winning this season's title. Endit