Neymar loses cool over botched substitution in final World Cup audition

RIO DE JANEIRO: Neymar’s final audition for Brazil’s World Cup squad turned into a nightmare on Sunday when officials mistakenly substituted the ​wrong player during Santos’ 3-0 defeat by Coritiba on Sunday.

The 34-year-old ‌was dramatically hauled off the pitch after he alleged a fourth official bungled a substitution, pulling Neymar instead of teammate Gonzalo Escobar despite the forward only leaving ​temporarily for treatment on his calf.

The fourth official raised the board ​with his number 10 displayed as Robinho Jr took his ⁠place. But as Neymar tried to return to the field, he received ​a yellow card before getting involved in a furious protest.

The referee refused ​to entertain his arguments and in a moment of desperation, Neymar snatched the substitution slip from the officials and showed it to a TV camera to prove Escobar ​was meant to come off, not him.

“The fourth official got the substitution ​wrong,” Santos said in a post on X.

“This was confirmed by the television coverage ‌and ⁠by the note used by the officials during the substitution. An inexplicable error that was not corrected.”

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The mix-up could not have come at a worse time for Neymar, with Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti set to announce his ​World Cup squad ​on Monday.

The Italian ⁠has said Neymar’s inclusion will be based on fitness and form, not sentiment. He has six goals and four ​assists for Santos across all competitions this season.

Despite being ​Brazil’s all-time ⁠top scorer with 79 goals, Neymar has not played for his country since 2023 due to injuries and a knee surgery that kept him sidelined ⁠for a ​year.

The frustrated forward eventually left the field ​and handed the captain’s armband to Escobar, the very player who should have been substituted ​in the first place.