Neymar Sent Off for 'Vinícius Jr Rule' Mouth Cover

In a recent Serie A match between Santos and Bahia, which concluded in a 1-1 draw, Neymar was shown a red card. The incident occurred when Neymar was seen covering his mouth during an exchange with Bahia defender Rodrigo Nestor. Referees are now empowered to issue red cards for deliberately covering the mouth during heated exchanges, a rule implemented by IFAB ahead of the 2026 World Cup to address potential hidden discriminatory language.

Following the controversial dismissal, Neymar expressed his anger on social media. He accused Nestor of using the newly enforced rule unfairly, stating that he was only joking with opponents and that Nestor's actions were "underhanded." Nestor, however, countered that Neymar was "disrespectful" and "failed as a person." This rule follows a high-profile incident involving Vinícius Júnior and was also recently used to send off Paraguay's Miguel Almirón in a World Cup match.