CAS rejects Neymar appeal

The Lausanne, Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, or CAS, on Friday rejected Brazil’s appeal of a suspension imposed on Neymar and confirmed the player will have to miss his country’s first two 2018 World Cup qualifiers versus Chile and Venezuela.

Neymar was handed a four-match suspension after a Copa America group stage game against Colombia in June.

Neymar was banned for four matches following his red card in the 2015 Copa America clash against against Colombia.

The Barcelona star was sent off for kicking the ball at defender Pablo Armero at the end of the 1-0 defeat to their South American rivals. He was involved in a fracas and Chilean referee Enrique Osses reported him for insulting him in the players’ tunnel.

Brazil’s football confederation had argued the ban should only apply to Copa America fixtures, which fall under the jurisdiction of CONMEBOL, not FIFA.

The CAS ruling, in favour of Federation Internationale de Football Association, means that Neymar will miss Brazil’s opening qualifier against continental champions Chile on October 8 as well as the visit of Venezuela five days later.

CAS went on to confirm it would explain the decision to reject the CBF’s appeal at a later date.